|
|
|
|
According to a few interpretations, “Casa sul torrente” would be the ancient meaning of “Vo’Beia” and this town has an unknown past. According to some it is believed that this area has Roman military settlements, however the town only developed during Medieval times.
Thanks to the ancient “Strada del Sale” that went from Genoa to Lombardy, Vobbia became famous due to its strategic position. This favored the area for the development of inns and restaurants that offered a place to stay for the mule drivers as well as for their animals. In the meantime other communities developed such as Noceto.
Vallenzona, Arezzo, and Alpe were the homes of the pastors and Parissone estate was given to the Tortonesi family, the Fieschi family, and then to the Conti of Lavagna. The town was later given the place-name Feudo della Croce. The feudatory’s could do whatever they wanted with the goods of the town as well as the population. The income derived from rents of the various mills, from tolls, and taxes that were put on gambling. During this time there was the phenomena of banditry that caused many problems for the lords, however it gave great attention and popularity to the lower classes.
The new post-Napoleonic period brought innovations, but this caused a diatribe determined by the local pride between the inhabitants of Crocefieschi and Val Vobbia. However all was resolved democratically in the beginning of 1903 with the new local government of Vobbia. But the bellicose spirit didn’t stop therefore new conflicts arose during the construction of the new road that led to the Isola del Cantone.
Despite the warlike spirit, the population was slowly reduced due to the great exodus towards the nearby communities that offered a greater possibility to work . The small Chapel of St. Fermo faces the mountains that towers above the agglomerate of St. Clemente in the Piedmont region. The mighty Castello della Pietra has promoted tourism in Italy as well as in foreign countries and is surrounded by a beautiful rural scenery, which makes up for its rich cultural patrimony.
|
|
|
|
