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THE CITY OF NOVI LIGURE

Important centre of road and railway communication between the Padan Plain and Genoa. Novi is situated at 197 m. of altitude on the extreme slopes of the Ligurian Appennines and at the outlet in the Padan Plain of the Scrivia river.

The city is dominated by the ruins of the medioeval castle whose existence can be traced back from 1135 and whose tower dates probably at the XIII century. Novi, already mentioned at the beginning of the XI century like “Corte Nuova”, was subsequently fortified by the Tortonese to whom probably belonged since the IX century. It became a free municipal area from the second half of the XII century and was again submitted to Tortona by the Red Beard before giving itself to the Marquis of Monferrato in 1230. After having been reconquered by Tortona in 1232, Novi was subjected by Matteo Visconti, Sire of Milan, in 1319. Yielded to the Monferrato marquis and then to Genoa, it passed once again to the Visconti in 1380, until, in 1392, it passed to Genoa that lost it in 1409 as a result of the occupation by Facino Cane. In 1416 Novi returned to the Visconti until 1447, year in which it was conquered by Genoa apart from a short period when it was occupied by Carlo Emanuele III di Savoia. Of Genoa it followed the fates until the restoration of 1815.

Under the Ligurian city, Novi knew a flourishing period during which several Genovese families reached the city and contaminated its dialect that still today is much more similar, for accent and wording, to the genovese than to the piedmontese.

Symbol of this period of wealth is the Negroni Palace and the other elegant nobiliary palaces of the historical centre. Among these, the Durazzo Palace is of remarkable importance from an historical point of view. Here the French general Barth Cathrine Joubert died during the battle of Novi, fought on August 15 1799 between the revolutionary army and the Russians of Suvorov.

Novi is also a cultural centre and, under this aspect, it is necessary to remember the Peloso Palace, today Museum of Ancient Art and Art Gallery.

In 1815 Novi passed to the Reign of Sardinia and in 1863, with the unification of Italy, it became a Piedmontese territory. With the proclamation of the Reign, the city of Novi assumed the denomination of “Ligure” in order to be distinguished from the numerous places with the same name and to remember its past under Genoa

The history of the city of Novi can also be read through the beautiful churches decorating it. Of the baroque period, the Collegiata Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, the churches of Sant’Andrea (with a remarkable wood sculpture), of Saint Peter and of Santa Maria Maddalena can be visited. The last one conserves another extraordinary wood group behind the Greater Altar, over the chorus, composed of 23 statues among which, for beauty and size, two riding warriors emerge.

Novi, today remarkable industrial and trade centre, with iron and steel industries, with factories working in mechanics and textiles sectors, but also in confectionery and food, is certainly one city that must be discovered not only for business, but also for tourism. Its palaces, its villas, its parks and its churches represent undoubtedly an artistic and cultural patrimony and one of the most interesting cities of the province of Alessandria. Symbols of its cuisine are the white truffles, the Cortese wine, the torrone and the candies.