Country Italy Province / Metropolitan city Alessandria (AL) Time zone CET (UTC+1) Elevation 193 m Local time Monday 4:00 PM Province Province of Alessandria | Region Piedmont Demonym(s) Villaverniesi Dialing code 0131 Area 4.63 km² Postal code 15050 Dialling code 0131 | |
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Weather 22°C, Wind NW at 13 km/h, 29% Humidity | ||
Villalvernia is a comune, population 932, in the Province of Alessandria in Piedmont, Italy, situated in a hilly area on the right bank of the Scrivia.
Contents
Map of 15050 Villalvernia Province of Alessandria, Italy
History
Probably founded during the 10th century, and simply called Villa, the town was partially enfeoffed to the bishops of Tortona by Pope Adrian IV (Nicholas Breakspear). In 1413 Filippo Maria Visconti enfeoffed it to Guglielmo d’Alvernia. The village remained with the Alvernias for 167 years, which explains the “alvernia” part of the placename.
In 1580, after the wedding of Francesco with Antonia Alvernia, the feud passed to the Spinola family. In 1652 the feudatories obtained the title of Marquess from Philip IV, King of Spain.
On 1 December 1944, the village was bombed by the United States Air Force, which was targeting the railway offices which had been transferred from Genoa. One hundred and fourteen inhabitants were killed, and 235 wounded in the bombing.