Roccaverano

It’s the capital of the part of the Langhe around Asti, the highest town, the biggest one.

Isolated, on the big hill that separates the two Bormida valleys, surrounded by the towers that have been its long-time defence, immersed between woods and terraces, farms and pastures, Roccaverano haas a somehow mythical atmosphere. Each house, each door, eacah image, sculpted or painted, of its churches reminds of ancient times.

Today around 500 people live in Roccaverano, but the town is slowly rediscovering its touristic value, due to the historical monuments, gastronomical treasures – robiolas, hazelnuts, salami -, and natural beauties.

History

The town got its name from the nearby Ovrano river. “Rocha Uverani” is the name used in the eldest documents, though in a document by Ottone I, dating from the X century, it’s called “Ruspaverano”; from these names the present one, Roccaverano, comes.

It has been owned by the Del Carretto, the marquis of Saluzzo and the Scarampi families.

In the XVII century the castle was occupied many times: by the Spanish in 1615, by Naples in 1633, by the French in1715 and the Spanish again in 1744.

Finally, Carlo Emanuele II Savoia bought it from the Valperga family, marquis of Olmo, the rights on Roccaverano and later all the other Scarampi feuds.