Aveto Valley
Encyclopedia
The Aveto Valley straddles the Province of Genoa
and the Province of Piacenza
, between the Italian regions of Liguria
and Emilia-Romagna
. The river Aveto runs through the valley, to later join its waters with those of the Trebbia
near the hamlet of Confiente. The upper, Ligurian part of the valley comprises the Comuni
of Rezzoaglio
and Santo Stefano d'Aveto
; lower, Emilian Aveto Valley is divided between Ferriere
, Cerignale
and Corte Brugnatella
. Verdant and lush, characterized by pleasant sights, fresh and balmy summers and abundant snow in winter, the valley is flanked by forested mountains, culminating at 1799 meters high of Monte Maggiorasca
.
, the local inhabitants, the Iluates and Veleiates Ligures
, gave more than a headache to the Latin powerhouse: Titus Livy and consul Gneus Fabricius had words of appraisal for the fighting qualities. The Veleiates were eventually subjugated after suffering defeat near Monte Penna
at the hands of consul
Marcus Claudius Marcellus
in 166 a.C.. The heathen Ligurians venerated that very mountain as a deity
, and the forests at its foothills were deemed to be sacred ground.
During the High Middle Ages
the valley welcomed a community of friars, who went on to build an important monastery located at Villa Cella and quoted in written documents of the Lombard
epoch. Up to the Middle Ages a lake occupied the plain now known as la Moglia near the hamlet of Cabanne. It was the monks of Villa Cella that, working hard, opened the natural dam that kept the water into the lake and made it run down the valley through the Masappello gorge.
In later times the valley was part of the Malaspina domain: these lords started building the Castle of Santo Stefano d'Aveto
. At the end of the 15th century the Fieschi family acquired the area for the sum of 28.000 livres.
After the failure of the Fieschi Plot in Genoa
(1547), the Aveto Valley was assigned to the powerful Doria
family. Two major revolts were directed against their domination in the last years of the 18th century, when the territory ended up an integral part of the Republic of Genoa
, then of the Kingdom of Sardinia
, and eventually of the Kingdom of Italy
.
During the Second World War, given its difficult terrain, the valley became a fastness of the Italian Resistenza
, being mostly spared by the fighting, which took place in nearby areas as Val Fontanabuona and the Sturla and Graveglia valleys.
Today part of the Aveto Valley is covered by the Aveto Natural Regional Park
(Parco Regionale dell'Aveto). The natural reserve of the Agoraie e Moggetto protects the Lago degli Abeti (Fir Lake), on whose bottom fossil
fir logs can be seen.
s find their origins here.
It is said that there was once an inn near the meadow known as Cabruscià. The innkeeper was murmured to be used to poison its richest guests; when exposed by the Malaspina lords, he was burnt alive in his inn, whence the name of the place, Ca bruxià (Ligurian
for Casa bruciata, "burnt house"). Other sources say this name belongs instead to an old customs house along the road to Borzonasca
.
The Aveto Valley had an important guest in the Nobel Prize
winner, the writer Ernest Hemingway
. During the Second World War, in 1945, he passed through the valley while embedded as war correspondent in the Allied liberation forces. It is said that on his diary he wrote: "Today I visited the most beautiful valley in this world" . Be it true or not, Hemingway again visited the area in the Fifties
for fishing .
, Genoa
, Pavia
, Piacenza
), featuring a common tradition and an important repertoire of very ancient music and dances. The main instrument played here is the Apennine pennywhistle, that together with the accordion
, and once upon a time by the müsa (Apennine pipes
), sets the tune and rhythm for the dances and enlivens the feasts.
is home to the most diverse collection of plant life throughout the whole of Italy. The Aveto Valley, part of the Ligurian section of the Apennines, is located in a particularly favorable environment for a number of climatical, geographic e geological reasons .
The Ligurian Apennine
is the border between the fitogeographic regions of Middle Europe and the Mediterranean; it connects the Alpine
and peninsular Apennine
ranges. For these reasons, plus the noteworthy altitudinal gradient (from about 350 metres asl at the confluence with the Trebbia
up to the about 1800 of Monte Maggiorasca
) different plant species from diverse environments thrive here. The Ligurian Sea
is quite near, furthermore, to the upper part of the Aveto Valley: some of the summits that surround it, as Monte Ramaceto
or Monte Aiona, overlook valleys whose waters run directly into the sea.
As for animal life, the Aveto Valley is still home to several wild species as: badgers, porcupines, foxes, boars, stone martens, wildcats and even wolves. Among the avian species many birds of prey, among which notably the owl
, hoot owl
, buzzard
, hawk
plus many other species, including the cuckoo
, finch
and thrush
, to quote some.
Province of Genoa
The Province of Genoa is a province in the Liguria region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Genoa.It has an area of 1,838 km², and a total population of about 900,000...
and the Province of Piacenza
Province of Piacenza
The Province of Piacenza is a province in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Piacenza.The province has 273,689 inhabitants . Its total area is 2,589 km². There are 48 comuni in the province, see Comuni of the Province of Piacenza...
, between the Italian regions of 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:...
and Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
. The river Aveto runs through the valley, to later join its waters with those of the Trebbia
Trebbia
The Trebbia is a river predominantly of Liguria and Emilia Romagna in northern Italy. It is one of the four main right-bank tributaries of the river Po, the other three being the Tanaro, the Secchia and the Panaro...
near the hamlet of Confiente. The upper, Ligurian part of the valley comprises the Comuni
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:...
of Rezzoaglio
Rezzoaglio
Rezzoaglio is a comune in the province of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,179 and an area of 104.9 km²....
and Santo Stefano d'Aveto
Santo Stefano d'Aveto
thumb|250px|Roman bridge over the Granizza stream.Santo Stefano d'Aveto is a comune in the province of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria.left|thumb|220px|View of the castle of Santo Stefano d'Aveto....
; lower, Emilian Aveto Valley is divided between Ferriere
Ferriere
This article is about the Italian commune, for the Bordeaux Third growth see Château FerriereFerriere is a comune in the Province of Piacenza in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 150 km west of Bologna and about 45 km southwest of Piacenza, in the Val Nure of the Ligurian...
, Cerignale
Cerignale
Cerignale is a comune in the Province of Piacenza in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 160 km west of Bologna and about 50 km southwest of Piacenza...
and Corte Brugnatella
Corte Brugnatella
Corte Brugnatella is a comune in the Province of Piacenza in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 160 km west of Bologna and about 45 km southwest of Piacenza....
. Verdant and lush, characterized by pleasant sights, fresh and balmy summers and abundant snow in winter, the valley is flanked by forested mountains, culminating at 1799 meters high of Monte Maggiorasca
Monte Maggiorasca
Monte Maggiorasca is a mountain on the border between Liguria and Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, the highest peak of the Ligurian Appennines....
.
History
In Roman timesRoman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
, the local inhabitants, the Iluates and Veleiates Ligures
Ligures
The Ligures were an ancient people who gave their name to Liguria, a region of north-western Italy.-Classical sources:...
, gave more than a headache to the Latin powerhouse: Titus Livy and consul Gneus Fabricius had words of appraisal for the fighting qualities. The Veleiates were eventually subjugated after suffering defeat near Monte Penna
Monte Penna (Liguria)
Monte Penna is a mountain in Liguria, northern Italy, part of the Ligurian Appennines.-References:...
at the hands of consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
Marcus Claudius Marcellus
Marcus Claudius Marcellus
Marcus Claudius Marcellus , five times elected as consul of the Roman Republic, was an important Roman military leader during the Gallic War of 225 BC and the Second Punic War...
in 166 a.C.. The heathen Ligurians venerated that very mountain as a deity
Deity
A deity is a recognized preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
, and the forests at its foothills were deemed to be sacred ground.
During the High Middle Ages
High Middle Ages
The High Middle Ages was the period of European history around the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries . The High Middle Ages were preceded by the Early Middle Ages and followed by the Late Middle Ages, which by convention end around 1500....
the valley welcomed a community of friars, who went on to build an important monastery located at Villa Cella and quoted in written documents of the Lombard
Lombards
The Lombards , also referred to as Longobards, were a Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin, who from 568 to 774 ruled a Kingdom in Italy...
epoch. Up to the Middle Ages a lake occupied the plain now known as la Moglia near the hamlet of Cabanne. It was the monks of Villa Cella that, working hard, opened the natural dam that kept the water into the lake and made it run down the valley through the Masappello gorge.
In later times the valley was part of the Malaspina domain: these lords started building the Castle of Santo Stefano d'Aveto
Santo Stefano d'Aveto
thumb|250px|Roman bridge over the Granizza stream.Santo Stefano d'Aveto is a comune in the province of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria.left|thumb|220px|View of the castle of Santo Stefano d'Aveto....
. At the end of the 15th century the Fieschi family acquired the area for the sum of 28.000 livres.
After the failure of the Fieschi Plot in 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....
(1547), the Aveto Valley was assigned to the powerful Doria
Doria
Doria, originally de Auria , meaning "the sons of Auria", and then de Oria or d'Oria, is the name of an old and extremely wealthy Genoese family who played a major role in the history of the Republic of Genoa and in Italy, from the 12th century to the 16th century.-Origins:According to legend, a...
family. Two major revolts were directed against their domination in the last years of the 18th century, when the territory ended up an integral part of the Republic of Genoa
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
, then of the Kingdom of Sardinia
Kingdom of Sardinia
The Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of the island of Sardinia first as a part of the Crown of Aragon and subsequently the Spanish Empire , and second as a part of the composite state of the House of Savoy . Its capital was originally Cagliari, in the south of the island, and later Turin, on the...
, and eventually of the Kingdom of Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
.
During the Second World War, given its difficult terrain, the valley became a fastness of the Italian Resistenza
Italian resistance movement
The Italian resistance is the umbrella term for the various partisan forces formed by pro-Allied Italians during World War II...
, being mostly spared by the fighting, which took place in nearby areas as Val Fontanabuona and the Sturla and Graveglia valleys.
Today part of the Aveto Valley is covered by the Aveto Natural Regional Park
Aveto Natural Regional Park
The Aveto Natural Regional Park is a natural park in Province of Genoa . It was established in 1995.- Geography :Situated in the inland of Tigullio area, Aveto Natural Regional Park protects one of the most beautiful and important areas of the Ligurian Apennines.The protected territory, over 30...
(Parco Regionale dell'Aveto). The natural reserve of the Agoraie e Moggetto protects the Lago degli Abeti (Fir Lake), on whose bottom fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
fir logs can be seen.
Historical trivia
The Aveto Valley was the den of brigands; many legendLegend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
s find their origins here.
It is said that there was once an inn near the meadow known as Cabruscià. The innkeeper was murmured to be used to poison its richest guests; when exposed by the Malaspina lords, he was burnt alive in his inn, whence the name of the place, Ca bruxià (Ligurian
Ligurian language (Romance)
Ligurian is a Gallo-Romance language spoken in Liguria in Northern Italy, parts of the Mediterranean coastal zone of France, Monaco and in the villages of Carloforte and Calasetta in Sardinia. Genoese , spoken in Genoa, the capital of Liguria, is its most important dialect...
for Casa bruciata, "burnt house"). Other sources say this name belongs instead to an old customs house along the road to Borzonasca
Borzonasca
Borzonasca is a comune in the Province of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about east of Genoa. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 2,054 and an area of ....
.
The Aveto Valley had an important guest in the Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winner, the writer Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American author and journalist. His economic and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the...
. During the Second World War, in 1945, he passed through the valley while embedded as war correspondent in the Allied liberation forces. It is said that on his diary he wrote: "Today I visited the most beautiful valley in this world" . Be it true or not, Hemingway again visited the area in the Fifties
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
for fishing .
Culture
The Aveto Valley is part of the culturally homogeneous territory known as the Four Provinces , straddling the Provinces of AlessandriaProvince of Alessandria
The Province of Alessandria is an Italian province, with a population of some 430,000, which forms the southeastern part of the region of Piedmont. The provincial capital is the city of Alessandria....
, Genoa
Province of Genoa
The Province of Genoa is a province in the Liguria region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Genoa.It has an area of 1,838 km², and a total population of about 900,000...
, Pavia
Province of Pavia
The Province of Pavia is a province in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. Pavia is the capital.It has an area of 2,965 km², and a total population of 493,753...
, Piacenza
Province of Piacenza
The Province of Piacenza is a province in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Piacenza.The province has 273,689 inhabitants . Its total area is 2,589 km². There are 48 comuni in the province, see Comuni of the Province of Piacenza...
), featuring a common tradition and an important repertoire of very ancient music and dances. The main instrument played here is the Apennine pennywhistle, that together with the accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
, and once upon a time by the müsa (Apennine pipes
Pipes
Pipes may refer to:*Pipe, a cylindrical conveyance*PIPES *Yahoo! Pipes*Pipeline *Bagpipes or Uilleann pipes*PIPE deal or private investment in public equity*Pipes , a Transformers character...
), sets the tune and rhythm for the dances and enlivens the feasts.
Flora and fauna
LiguriaLiguria
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:...
is home to the most diverse collection of plant life throughout the whole of Italy. The Aveto Valley, part of the Ligurian section of the Apennines, is located in a particularly favorable environment for a number of climatical, geographic e geological reasons .
The Ligurian Apennine
Apennine
-Other places on Earth:*The Apennine or Italian peninsula*Apennins, a department of the first French Empire-Plants and animals:*The Apennine , a modern breed of domestic sheep.*Apennine Shrew, an insectivore endemic to Italy...
is the border between the fitogeographic regions of Middle Europe and the Mediterranean; it connects the Alpine
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
and peninsular Apennine
Apennine
-Other places on Earth:*The Apennine or Italian peninsula*Apennins, a department of the first French Empire-Plants and animals:*The Apennine , a modern breed of domestic sheep.*Apennine Shrew, an insectivore endemic to Italy...
ranges. For these reasons, plus the noteworthy altitudinal gradient (from about 350 metres asl at the confluence with the Trebbia
Trebbia
The Trebbia is a river predominantly of Liguria and Emilia Romagna in northern Italy. It is one of the four main right-bank tributaries of the river Po, the other three being the Tanaro, the Secchia and the Panaro...
up to the about 1800 of Monte Maggiorasca
Monte Maggiorasca
Monte Maggiorasca is a mountain on the border between Liguria and Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, the highest peak of the Ligurian Appennines....
) different plant species from diverse environments thrive here. The Ligurian Sea
Ligurian Sea
The Ligurian Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, between the Italian Riviera and the island of Corsica. The sea is probably named after the ancient Ligures people.-Geography:...
is quite near, furthermore, to the upper part of the Aveto Valley: some of the summits that surround it, as Monte Ramaceto
Monte Ramaceto
Monte Ramaceto is a mountain in Liguria, northern Italy, part of the Ligurian Appennines.-References:...
or Monte Aiona, overlook valleys whose waters run directly into the sea.
As for animal life, the Aveto Valley is still home to several wild species as: badgers, porcupines, foxes, boars, stone martens, wildcats and even wolves. Among the avian species many birds of prey, among which notably the owl
Owl
Owls are a group of birds that belong to the order Strigiformes, constituting 200 bird of prey species. Most are solitary and nocturnal, with some exceptions . Owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects, and other birds, although a few species specialize in hunting fish...
, hoot owl
Hoot Owl
Hoot Owl may refer to:* Barred owl, a type of owl* Hoot Owl, Oklahoma, a town* Hoot Owl, a major Owl City fan...
, buzzard
Buzzard
A buzzard is one of several large birds, but there are a number of meanings as detailed below.-Old World:In the Old World Buzzard can mean:* One of several medium-sized, wide-ranging raptors with a robust body and broad wings....
, hawk
Hawk
The term hawk can be used in several ways:* In strict usage in Australia and Africa, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae, which comprises the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks,...
plus many other species, including the cuckoo
Cuckoo
The cuckoos are a family, Cuculidae, of near passerine birds. The order Cuculiformes, in addition to the cuckoos, also includes the turacos . Some zoologists and taxonomists have also included the unique Hoatzin in the Cuculiformes, but its taxonomy remains in dispute...
, finch
Finch
The true finches are passerine birds in the family Fringillidae. They are predominantly seed-eating songbirds. Most are native to the Northern Hemisphere, but one subfamily is endemic to the Neotropics, one to the Hawaiian Islands, and one subfamily – monotypic at genus level – is found...
and thrush
Thrush (bird)
The thrushes, family Turdidae, are a group of passerine birds that occur worldwide.-Characteristics:Thrushes are plump, soft-plumaged, small to medium-sized birds, inhabiting wooded areas, and often feed on the ground or eat small fruit. The smallest thrush may be the Forest Rock-thrush, at and...
, to quote some.