Altare
Encyclopedia
Altare is a comune
(municipality) in the Province of Savona
in the Italian
region Liguria
, located about 45 km (28 mi) west of Genoa
and about 11 km (6.8 mi) northwest of Savona
. As of 1 January 2009, it had a population of 2,160 and an area of 11.7 km² (4.5 sq mi).
Altare borders the following municipalities: Cairo Montenotte
, Carcare
, Mallare
, Quiliano
, and Savona
.
from the Ligurian Apennines. Also called the pass at Cadibona or the pass at Altare it is accessed from the coast by the Via Nazionale Piemonte, coming up from Savona
and crossing into Piemonte in the north Italian plain.
Altare includes a population recognizing a distinct identity and calling itself the Università d'Altare, or the Monsu, as opposed to the paesani, the rest of the population. Although currently Christian, it descends from a Sephardic Jewish community of glassmakers who found refuge in the mountains several hundred years ago. They maintained themselves as a ghetto, often self-governing, until the 19th century. At that time they were more completely assimilated, except for their traditional self-distinction. The Museum of Glass in Villa Rosa at Altare preserves many pieces of fine glass produced during this tradition.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
(municipality) in the Province of Savona
Province of Savona
The Province of Savona is a province in the Liguria region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Savona.-Overview:...
in the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
region Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
, located about 45 km (28 mi) west of Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
and about 11 km (6.8 mi) northwest of Savona
Savona
Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea....
. As of 1 January 2009, it had a population of 2,160 and an area of 11.7 km² (4.5 sq mi).
Altare borders the following municipalities: Cairo Montenotte
Cairo Montenotte
Cairo Montenotte is a comune in the Province of Savona in the Italian region Liguria, located about 50 km west of Genoa and about 20 km northwest of Savona...
, Carcare
Carcare
Carcare is a comune in the Province of Savona in the Italian region Liguria, located about 50 km west of Genoa and about 20 km northwest of Savona....
, Mallare
Mallare
Mallare is a comune in the Province of Savona in the Italian region Liguria, located about 50 km southwest of Genoa and about 15 km west of Savona...
, Quiliano
Quiliano
Quiliano is a comune in the Province of Savona in the Italian region Liguria, located about 45 km southwest of Genoa and about 5 km west of Savona...
, and Savona
Savona
Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea....
.
Geography
Altare is just west of the Colle di Cadibona ("Cadibona Hill"), which at 459 m (1,505.9 ft) divides the Ligurian AlpsLigurian Alps
The Ligurian Alps are a mountain range in northwestern Italy. A small part is located in France. They form the south-western extremity of the Alps, separated from the Apennines by the Colle di Cadibona. The Col de Tende separates them from the Maritime Alps...
from the Ligurian Apennines. Also called the pass at Cadibona or the pass at Altare it is accessed from the coast by the Via Nazionale Piemonte, coming up from Savona
Savona
Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea....
and crossing into Piemonte in the north Italian plain.
Demographics
The population of this mountain community, recorded for modern times by ISTAT, has remained perennially at about 1100 families living in as many dwellings. Its size is limited to a large degree by the mountainous environment.Altare includes a population recognizing a distinct identity and calling itself the Università d'Altare, or the Monsu, as opposed to the paesani, the rest of the population. Although currently Christian, it descends from a Sephardic Jewish community of glassmakers who found refuge in the mountains several hundred years ago. They maintained themselves as a ghetto, often self-governing, until the 19th century. At that time they were more completely assimilated, except for their traditional self-distinction. The Museum of Glass in Villa Rosa at Altare preserves many pieces of fine glass produced during this tradition.