1630 – today: from the annus horribilis to the rebirth over the seven hills. Ferrere capital of honey and artisan salami.
Landscape.
Ferrere shares a particular characteristic with Rome: the Capitoline city also stands on seven hills, one of which was the object of valorization in December 2018 with the creation of an equipped panoramic point (see Belvedere of Saint Secondo).
It covers an area of 13.93 km² and has a population of about 1600 inhabitants.
It is about 20 km from the provincial capital, Asti, 40 km from Turin, and 25 km from Alba.
History.
The name of Ferraria, the ancient denomination of Ferrere, appears for the first time in a document dated 1034 which specifies that it belongs to the Count of Pombia.
Ferrere subsequently passed into the hands of the Garettis, who remained lords for about 750 years.
The current appearance of the town, scattered over the hills, derives from the events that characterized the village in 1630: first the invasion of the French and a bloody period of war, then—again in the same year—a terrible flood invaded the whole valley. Ferrere's annus horribilis ended with the outbreak of the plague that affected much of northern Italy.
The sequence of nefarious events prompted many inhabitants to move from the valley to the surrounding hills, believing them to be safer places.
In 1851 the Garettis' properties were subsequently sold to the Gromis Counts of Trana and then Emanuele Montalcini, paternal uncle of the Nobel Prize Rita Levi Montalcini, who spent part of her youth in the town.
Administration.
Food and wine and typical products.
You say Ferrere and think of honey: the precious food is celebrated in the Ferrere Miele event, much appreciated by the ferreresi and tourists.
Ferrere is also known for the production of cured meats and beef; a typical dish is the Piedmontese mixed fry.
The town is home to the Associazione dei Produttori di Salame Cotto Monferrato.
To be seen.
Ferrere is dotted with chapels and churches scattered throughout the territory.
Among the most valuable buildings are the parish church of Saint Secondo, the deconsecrated Church of Confraternita dell'Annunziata, the Chapel of Saint Defendente, that of Saint Rocco, and still the church dedicated to Saint Secondo Martire, with adjacent belvedere.
The core of the village is Castelvecchio.
Also, worth seeing is the Castelrosso, the monument "A country means not being alone ...", the House of the waiter Francesco Elia and the Monument to Rita Levi-Montalcini.
For lovers of nature and relaxation, a stop at the Belvedere of Saint Secondo, the monumental chestnut, and the yellow and fuchsia giant bench.
Curiosity.
Ferrere boasts supremacy in the Asti region for the highest ratio of inhabitants to the number of hives.
Information synthesis and/or re-elaboration was taken from the website of the Municipality of Ferrere
Cover image source: Provincia di Asti