Bobbio

Name	Bobbio
Official name	Comune di Bobbio
Image shield	Bobbio-Stemma.png
Coordinates display	title
Region	Emilia Romagna
Province	Piacenza (PC)
Frazioni	Cassolo, Ceci, Dezza, Mezzano Scotti, Santa Maria, San Cristoforo, San Salvatore, Vaccarezza
Mayor	Marco Rossi (since 7 June 2009)
Area total km2	106.5
Population total	3724
Population demonym	Bobbiesi
Elevation m	272
Saint	St. Columbanus, Assumption of Mary, St. Antonio Gianelli
Day	23 November, 15 August
Postal code	29022
Area code	0523
Website

Bobbio is a small town and commune in the province of Piacenza in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy. It is located in the Trebbia River valley southwest of the town Piacenza. There were also an abbey and a diocese of the same name. Bobbio is the administrative center of the Comunità Montana Appennino Piacentino.

Small, early medieval old town, Bobbio is located in the heart of Val Trebbia, valley described by Ernest Hemingway as the most beautiful in the world and environmental heritage of UNESCO. The resort is nestled at the foot of Monte Penice (1,460 m.), on the left bank of the river Trebbia. Its history is identified with the Abbey founded in 614 by St. Columbanus, who in the Dark Ages became one of the main places of religious culture in medieval Italy, with a famous library and scriptorium famous. The possessions of the abbey in Lombard and Carolingian age span across the top Italy. It 'a coveted tourist destination known for its past of art and culture, from nature lovers and sports and its monuments; since antiquity a place of boundaries between different cultures by Piacentini, Liguria, Piedmont and Pavesi. The historical center, the living heart of the city, has kept intact the characteristics of the medieval village. Town landmark Ponte Vecchio, called Ponte Gobbo (Hunchback Bridge) also known as Devil's Bridge, an ancient stone bridge of Roman origin, which crosses the river with 11 arches Trebbia irregular. Dominates the Shrine of Our Lady of Penice located on top of Monte Penice, tourist place also in winter thanks to the ski resorts. In January 2011, historians had a clue that the Mona Lisa might've been painted here.

Landscape and outskirts

Bobbio is 45 km far from Piacenza and from there you can reach it taking the state road n. 45 that connect Piacenza to Genova. From Pavia you can reach Bobbio through the road n. 461 and Pass Penice.

From Bobbio taking the road to Piacenza in a few minute you can reach the Barberino Orrido a wonderful overhanging on the river Trebbia, following on the same direction you meet the village of Mezzano Scotti and a few kilometers after the little village called Perino. It is an ideal starting point for visiting the Perino Valley or the ancient characteristic villages of Aglio and Pradovera where are the remains of the old castle of Erbia.

On the same road but in direction Genova, 4 km from Bobbio, there is San Salvatore a little village from where you can enjoy a wonderful view of the river meanders. A few kilometers upstream is Marsaglia and Brugnello with ancient Church of Brugnello overlooking the river Trebbia.

From Bobbio taking the state road n. 461 for Pavia after 12 km you reach Passo Penice (1145 m) where is a ski resort, on the top of the Monte Penice (1460 m) there is the ancient Virgin Penice Sanctuary with a view of the territory; a few kilometers downhill, near Ceci, is a country cross ski run.

On the other side of the river at 10 km from Bobbio is the village of Coli sited between beautiful pine woods and pasture fields.

The river Trebbia and the valley

The river Trebbia is the backbone of Bobbio and its territory. It springs in Liguria on Mount Prelà and covers 120 km to reach the river Po. its waters are fresh, clean and run between stones and rocks outlining a twisting journey through wonderful overhanging and spectacular waterfalls.

The Trebbia valley is also one of the most interesting geological areas of all Italy and it is well known among international scholars.

On the river it is possible to practise a lot of sports: hiking, swim, canoeing, canyoning and fishing. In its water live trouts, balbels and chubs.

In summer time a lot of people come to sunbathe along its beaches.

The territory around Bobbio is characterized by the Apennines which, apart from outlining a splendid landscape, influence the climate granting cool air in summer time and protecting the town from cold winds and fog in winter. On the surrounding mountains you can find cultivated fields, pastures but also many woods where a lot of animals have their habitat (squirrel, dormouse, hedgehog, hare, badger, fox, wolf, wild boar, pheasant, partridge, and many birds) and where grow a great variety of trees and flowers (aromatic herbs, broom, beech, oak, pine, chestnut, spruce, larch).

History

Known to the ancients as Bobium or Ebovium, it underwent many settlements from the Neolithic Age up to the contemporary one. Several archaeological finds testify to the presence of Liguri, Boii (Gauls of Celtic origin), and from the fourteenth century B.C. the Romans.

But the history of Bobbio is tied to the existence of the Abbey founded in 614 by the Irish monk Saint Columbanus (It. Colombano), who received this district from the Longobard King Agilulf.

Bobbio Abbey (see main article) increased its possessions and became one of the principal seats of culture and religion of Northern Italy and a center of learning during the Middle Ages, and was renowned for its famous Scriptorium and Library. In the 10th century there were 700 codices; but its decline in the 15th century led to the dispersal of the library. The monastery was officially suppressed by the French in 1803.

This monastery is in part the model for the great monastery in Umberto Eco's novel The Name of the Rose.

In 1014 Bobbio was erected City and Episcopal See and surrounded by city walls and form the Contea of Bobbio.

The city lay in the region of Liguria but in 1230 Piacenza conquered Bobbio and its dominion lasted until the 14th century when the Contea of Bobbio passed, first, under the rule of the Malaspina, and then under the rule of the Visconti family in the Duchy of Milan.

In 1387 the city passed to Dal Verme family and formed the Contea of Bobbio and Voghera; in 1516 the area formed the Marchesato of Bobbio.

The town became part of the domains of the House of Savoy in 1748 after the Wars of Succession and form the Province of Bobbio.

In 1796 the French arrived in Italy and only four years later Napoleon suppressed the monastery and sold all its treasure.

From 1815 to 1859 Bobbio and its province were included into the Department of Genoa, then passed to Pavia and finally in 1923 to Piacenza.

On 7 July 1944, the partisan resistance in Italy conquered the town, formed the Republic of Bobbio and governed it autonomously until it was crushed by the Germans on 27 August, the same year.

The bishopric dates from 1014. On 30 September 1986, the Diocese was suppressed and merged with Archdiocese of Genoa. Since 1989, Bobbio has been united with the Diocese of Piacenza to form the Diocese of Piacenza-Bobbio.

Main sights

1) The Saint Columbanus Abbey: Open to the public the long ground floor corridor, the main cloister; the service yard; the Abbey Museum, recently restored and enlarged, collects remarkable works and art objects of Roman, Medieval and Renaissance Age, and Town Museum is a sort of didactic journey, whose admittance is from the southern wing of the cloister, the only one that guards the original portico.

*Saint Columbanus Basilica: it was built between 1456 and 1522 on the rest of the protoromanic church of the 10th century. Naves frescos are by Bernardino Lanzani from the town San Colombano al Lambro (1527); remarkable the precious wooden choir in gothic style dated 1488. In the crypt: a 12th century flooring mosaic; Saint Columbanus marble sarcophagus made by Giovanni de Patriarchi (1480); two marble pluteos used as tombstones of Saint Attala and Saint Bertulf sepulchres; a beautiful 12th century wrought iron gate.

12) The Old Bridge: the 280 metre long Ponte Vecchio ("Old Bridge"), which spans the Trebbia by means of eleven unequal arches, is known to have existed before 1196 and may be of Roman origin. From its curious and irregularity shape it is commonly called the ‘Hunchback Bridge’; also the ‘Devil’s Bridge’ after many legends: the famous legend tells that it was built by the Devil in one night after he made a pact with Saint Columbanus who promised him the soul of the first passerby; but when the bridge was finished the Irish Saint sent a dog.

The other legend is in which a man tricks Satan into rebuilding it over-night after it has been destroyed by a flood. In reality the bridge did need to be reconstructed after flood damage in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

2) The Malaspina-Dal Verme Castle: begun by Corradino Malaspina in 1304 on the hill overlooking the town, it remained for the duration of his rule a ghibelline stronghold. Today it remains the square-plan keep, two minor service towers and the defensive walls. By the castle affords a good view over the town and the surrounding countryside. In 1800, under the name of Castello Bobbium, the property and mark was purchased and owned by the Piccinini family of Emilia-Romagna until 1956 when the castle and land was ceded by the Piccinini to the Italian State.

The Park of the Castle: the big park under the castle.

The Castellaro: the old historic quarter under the castle and the park.

3) The Cathedral: built in 1075, is the main religious edifice of the city. It has two majestic towers, which are original in the lower parts. The façade is from 1463 (date in which also a portico was demolished), with three portals in Gothic style. The cathedral presents modern decoration in the three naves and an eighteenth-century decoration in the presbytery and on the transept dome. Through the right transept you can reach Saint John chapel where there is a splendid fresco of the second half of the 15th century representing the Annunciation. The crypt houses the sepulchres of the bishops of Bobbio, and the chapel of Saint Antonio Maria Gianelli, bishop of Bobbio.

On the right side is the Palazzo Vescovile ("Bishop's Palace", 11th century), partially renewed in 1448; there are also the garden of cathedral.

On the left side is the Bobbio historical archives: sited into the premises of the Old Seminary, founded in the mid of the 12th century, they keep precious parchments and fragments of ancient codes dated from 9th century to 15th century. Available on microfilm the reproduction of all documents referred to Bobbio.

6) Saint Francis' church and Monastery: built according to the unrefined 13th century Saint Francis style. The monastery maintained the original shape while the church was rebuilt at the beginning of the 18th century in baroque style. Worth of mention is the beautiful inner cloister with squat pillars that sustain four crossvault covered spans on each side and over which runs a wooden loggia with precious medieval capitals columns.

4) Saint Lawrence church: built probably in the 12th century it was enlarged during the 17th century. Still visible on the left side are parts of the ancient building while on the right outer wall are two tablets also from the previous church.

7) The Virgin Mary's Help Sanctuary: it encloses the remains of the 15th century church decorated with a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary. In 1611 it was said to have dripped sweat from the forehead. It was given the present baroque classical style in 1641.

Two museums are located within the abbey complex, one devoted to the abbey and one to the town. Among the exhibits is a much admired carved ivory "bucket" of the fourth century AD.

The Abbey Museum: It collects remarkable works and art objects of Roman, Medieval and Renaissance Age. Of Roman period: the Cocceia family sarcophagus, four cinerary urns, a pagan altar dedicated to Diana and an alabaster Hydra dating back to 3rd century. Other noteworthy pieces are the longobard stones, the Saint Cumiano tombstone (8th century), tin votive ampullae, the Orpheus ivory shrine and the wrought silver Saint Colunbanus bust. In the picture gallery a polyptyc by Luini representing the Assumption.

The Town Museum: sited in the ancient refectory and service room, is a didactic journey through the history of Bobbio and can be a sort of introduction to all the other historical places of the town. The first section is dedicated to the life and works of the Irish Saint, while the second section looks at the monastic complex from an architectonic point of view, on a computer runs a program for a virtual visit of the building, but it is also about the famous Scriptorium that made Bobbio the greatest cultural centre of northern Italy. The dressing made of light and transparent supports completed by multimedial means is perfectly integrated with the monumental space of the monastery and its educational aim.

8) The monastery of Santa Chiara and Palazzo Comunale.

11) The ex Saint Nicolas' Church.

The ancient Palaces Bobbiensis: Malaspina (10 into the map), Tamburelli, Olmi (9), Alcarini (5) (with the Teodolinda house), Calvi, etc.

The Therm of Bobbio.

The Carlone Valley with the thermal waterfall with thermal springs near the ancient middle ages village San Cristoforo and the old escursonistic Sentiero medioevale per il Santuario del Monte Penice: 5 km. from Bobbio.

Thermal springs

In the outskirts of Bobbio there are many water springs rich in sodium chloride, bromine and iodine. When their curative properties where not known these waters were exploited to obtain salt. Indeed, already during the Longobard Age, the army leader Sundrarit enjoyed the income of the salt-works sited on the right side of the river Trebbia. Now in San Martino, 1.5 km. from the centre of the town, the spa building Therm of Bobbio, first opened in July 1904, is being restored. In June 2010 it will see the creation of a modern health clinic and a beauty farm where diseases of the respiratory system and dermatological ones will be treated.

Culture

Bobbio in literature and cinema

The director Marco Bellocchio, whose family is originally from Bobbio, shot in the city and close to his first film of success, Fists in the Pocket. Many bobbies starred in the film as extras. He also edited each year cultural activities related to cinema, particularly by the Laboratory Farecinema and Bobbio Film Festival (with performances in summer).

The monastery of Bobbio and its library – the richest of the early centuries of the Middle Ages – are mentioned in the novel by Umberto Eco The name of the rose.

Bobbio Film Festival

The town of Bobbio has its own film festival director Marco Bellocchio is born from the Laboratory Farecinema, and would eventually become the film competition Bobbio Film Festival. "Farecinema – meet the authors" is the brainchild of Maestro Marco Bellocchio who wanted to create in his hometown, Bobbio, a laboratory for teaching the art of film direction. Already the first edition was held, parallel to the laboratory, an evening film festival open to the public with a film club at the end of screenings where people participated representing the film projected. In 2005 becomes the exhibition Festival, taking the name of "Bobbio Film Festival" and Marco Bellocchio establishing the award "The Hunchback of Gold" in reference to symbols of Bobbio, the medieval Ponte Gobbo, which will reward the film judged the best among those proposed. To review films that work as he moved in the cloister of Saint Columban, where traditionally takes the event. In parallel, the laboratory continues Farecinema that will become a film school and acting, and the town of Bobbio and its also become a movie set with the possibility of participation of extras also taken from the street.

Literary Contest

From 2008 the local newspaper publisher and Pontegobbo piacentino Freedom indicate a literary competition open to young Italian and foreign writers of fiction and poetry. The competition from a young unsigned talent and contribute to emerge and become known and appreciated by audiences and critics. Or experts will be recognized and awards for top entries there will be opportunities for public amenities, while those who are established as the winner will get free advertising and inclusion in all contexts of narrative. Piazza Santa Fara parallel in the porch of Saint Columban, the event is held in Piazza managed by Pontegobbo Books, with the chance to meet and buy works of historical fiction local tourism.

Music and dancing

Positioned in the heart of four provinces (Alessandria in Piedmont – Genoa, in Liguria – Pavia, in Lombardy – Piacenza, in Emilia-Romagna), Bobbio can boast a very old musical tradition, linked to the use of an instrument, the piffero (oboe popular double-reed), which accompanied by accordion, brings a vast repertoire of songs that marked the various stages of life of the community. In addition to the provinces of the four dances (famously jig Bobbio Bala Ghidon), there are tracks for the Carlin May – Cantamaggio, with variant of the feast of the Santa Croce, marriage, Lever (Leva Levon to Santa Maria) and that recall places and events related to the past (the song Draghin). The dances, in addition to waltz, polka and mazurka you can meet archaic dances such as: Alexandria, the monferrina, the jig two.

Music groups:

I Musetta [composed Tilion (Attilio Rocca of Ozzola), Piercarlo Cardinali of Piacenza and Bani (Ettore Losini of Degara) soul feasts and celebrations and brought these music abroad].

The Enerbia (composed Scagnelli Maddalena, Franco Guglielmetti, Stefano Faravelli and Massimo Braghieri).

The pair of younger musicians, originally from Cassolo, is made up Gabriele Dametti the piper accompanied by Davide Follini the accordion.

Gerberto Choir – City of Bobbio

Main: [Chorus Gerberto http://www.corogerberto.eu]

The choir takes its name from Gerbert of Aurillac who was the abbot of the monastery of St. Columban in Bobbio around the year one thousand and later became Pope with the name of Sylvester II. Gerbert was not only a scholar of astronomy, mathematics and philosophy, but also of music.

Founded by Don Michele Tosi in the 60s choir reconstituted itself after more than 20 years of inactivity in the November of 1998, through the efforts of former choir members and the young maestro Edo Mazzoni. The repertoire includes 30 items addressed by the traditional mountain songs, folklore and songs of international modern authors revised and harmonized by the teacher who is directing the choir into a genre that may involve several generations, even the youngest. Today the choir can number among his most significant experiences also participation in major international competitions and concerts abroad.

Gastronomy and local products

The local gastronomy is influenced by the different traditions of the near regions: Liguria, Piemonte, Lombardia and Emilia. As part of the kitchen Piacenza, Bobbio occupies a prominent position could include a series of original local dishes and desserts that are passed down from many generations:

macaroni bobbies (with the needle) (flour, eggs, oil, water);

pine nut ricotta (or Pin da Lesa) (flour, potatoes, ricotta, spinach, eggs, and Grana Padano);

lasagne bobbies (typical lasagna layered with béchamel sauce mixed with meat and mushroom sauce);

the bobbies stew (with beef, butter, olive oil, garlic Piacenza, flour, onion, dry red wine, salt, pepper, nutmeg, rosemary, bay leaves, sage, carrots, celery, tomato sauce);

snails bobbies (wet). There is a festival dedicated to and consumed on Christmas Eve in the best restaurants (snails, onion, carrots, leek, celery, tomato sauce, white wine, olive oil, butter, pepper);

almond cake, all year round in ovens and bakeries of Bobbio (of three types, crisp, full and soft);

the cake Sandy

the croccante, a sort of almond sweetmeat.

Christmas cake (flour, honey, yeast, eggs, raisins, sugar, butter, milk).

mustard fruit (pear, apple).

The famous snails of Bobbio that from survive food have become a much sought-after course for the Christmas Eve or the celebrated maccheroni hand made pasta done with the aid of the knitting needle and served with a tasty beef stew sauce.

In the right season it is possible to taste the flavoured products of the surrounding woods such as mushrooms and truffles.

And last but not least the numerous locally produced wines all of excellent quality. Tradition says that were the same monks arrived with Saint Columbanus who started the growing of the vine after it was abandoned during the dark age of Middleage.

Bobbio is located at the foot of Ligurian Apennines, in the territory known as Colli Piacentini, near DOC for the production of typical wines such as Gutturnio, Trebbianino Trebbia Val, Barbera, Bonarda, Ortrugo, Malvasia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot (other: Riesling, Dolcetto, Muscat and Merlot).

Bobbio is also famous for the sausage: salami, Cups, bacon, Piacenza PDO, sausages of various kinds, and cotechini and zampone.

Honors environmental and historic cultural

Some art historians, including Carla Glori, have suggested that Bobbio and its three-arched Ponte Gobbo (which was destroyed in 1472) are the landscape in the background of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.

Bobbio is recognized as a City of Art and Culture.

From 2006 was awarded the Bandiera arancione (it. orange Flag) by Touring Club Italiano, as high-medieval center of tourist interest, which stands for excellence and hospitality, and it is also inserted into the World Tourism Organization.

From 2008 is also part of the club The most beautiful villages in Italy (it. I Borghi più belli d'Italia), that included 149 villages throughout the Italian territory.

Annual events

The events are a yearly, many are concentrated in the summer, as the manifestation Summer bobbies and Thursday bobbies. Among the hundreds of events we can indicate the most followed:

The parties and parades of Carnival (February)

The feast of St. Joseph and Spring (bonfire night) (19 March)

The Rally Valli Piacentine (May)

The Fair of St. John (June)

The Appennino Folk Festival (July)

The gourmet feast and musical Irish music in Ireland (July)

The Bobbio Film Festival of Marco Bellocchio (July)

The exhibition antique market (August)

The Feast of Assumption with fires evening (15 August)

The Bobbio-Passo Penice (race vintage cars) (September)

The grape festival, and shows the mushroom and truffle (October)

The medieval feast of St. Columban (November)

The snail festival and Christmas market (December)

Addition, every Saturday morning on the main square, is held the traditional and ancient fair-market, with stalls and markets of various kinds with local produce and Agrobiologica.

Patronal fiestas and principal religious feasts

May Ascension (ancient columbanian procession from the Castle Malaspina-Dal Verme, with the blessing of nature, earth and the fruits of blessing buslanin, traditional sweets)

31 May (end of the month with the Virgin Mary and procession from the Sanctuary to Aid the city streets)

5 June Madonna aid (party at Shrine of Our Lady of Aid Bobbio)

7 June and 21 October Sant Antonio Maria Gianelli (second patron saint of Bobbio)

15 August Santa Maria Assunta (feast of the patron Bobbio and Cathedral of Bobbio, fireworks at Ponte Gobbo)

second Sunday in September: Our Lady of Peniche (party at Sanctuary of Santa Maria in Monte Penice)

23 November St. Columban (feast of the patron Bobbio and all'Abbey of Bobbio preceded the night before the procession of the relic in the rite of Transit)

Road routes and transport

# By Piacenza after the exit from Motorway A1, take the ring road to the stadium, then we arrive at the junction of the Galleana, located at the southern outskirts the city, where he began the main road to Val Trebbia: Strada Statale 45 di Val Trebbia – SS45, which goes to SW for 45 km towards Genoa; # By Milan or Bologna, Piacenza achieved by Motorway A1 or through Via Emilia, take the State Road 45 Val Trebbia – SS45 direction Bobbio – Genoa; # By Turin, Cremona or Brescia, Piacenza achieved by Motorway A21, take the State Road 45 Val Trebbia – SS45 in direction Bobbio – Genoa; # By Genoa and the Italian Riviera, you climb up along the Val Bisagno to leave the city, across the road from Val Trebbia: Strada Statale 45 di Val Trebbia – SS45 towards Piacenza, which touches the towns of Liguria Bargagli, Torriglia, Montebruno, Rovegno, Gorreto and those of Emilia Ottone and Corte Brugnatella (km 68); # By Chiavari and the Italian Riviera, both for the former State Route 586 Valley dell'Aveto – SP 586 through Rezzoaglio and Val Aveto to Marsaglia (Corte Brugnatella) (not recommended in winter) (km 90) or head for the Val Fontanabuona by the route Provincial 225 Val Fontanabuona – SP 225 to Bargagli and incorporated in the State Road 45 Val Trebbia – SS45 towards Piacenza (km 100); # By Recco through the Provincial Road 333 – SP 333 to Gattorna (Moconesi) and then the Strada Provinciale 225 – SP 225 to Bargagli and always attach the State Road 45 Val Trebbia – SS45 towards Piacenza (100 km); # By Voghera by Varzi and the Monte Penice Pass for the former State Road 461 Pass Penice – SP 461 (km 57); # By Castel San Giovanni through the Val Tidone and the passing of Monte Penice Pass for the former State Route 412 Val Tidone – SP 412 (km 50).

From reports the efficiency of communications: in particular the main artery SS 45 Val Trebbia, in fact it was partly renovated, but still stretches of road with strong characterization of other times with the logical consequences, lend, so the utmost care when you are in travel it is advised caution and moderation in the rate since the stroke, especially among Rivergaro and Perino, very twisty corners with poor visibility and bumpy surface.

The section of road mentioned above are quite interesting from the point of view and landscape view, provided the attention to driving, in several sections, where allowed, they should stop to admire the territory of considerable value in each season, useful to bring a good camera.

Val Trebbia is served from Piacenza providing regular public bus service from Piacenza via Rivergaro, Bobbio, Marsaglia, Ponte Organasco, Brass, Brass depart from the bus routes that connect the upper Val Genoese Trebbia with Genoa, but also the line Brass Bridge-Organasco-Varzi and then Oltrepò Pavia. Bobbio also depart from other local connections: Bobbio-Coli, Bobbio-Marsaglia-S.Stefano Aveto-Rezzoaglio.

Twin cities

– Ybbs an der Donau, Austria – Navan, County Meath, Ireland

See also

Manuscripts written in Bobbio:

Bobbio Jerome

Bobbio Orosius

References

External links

Bobbio homepage (in Italian)

Piacenza Internet-Bobbio news e info (in Italian)

Bobbio in the site of "I Borghi più belli d'Italia" (in Enghish)

A brief History (in Italian) from the site of the Comunità Montana Appennino Piacentino

Bobbio and Val Trebbia (in Italian)

Notiziario bobbiese – History of the territory (in Italian)

Catholic Encyclopedia article on Bobbio

Bobbio's webcam

Category:Roman towns and cities in Italy Category:Cities and towns in Emilia-Romagna Category:Spa towns in Italy Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1522