Bormida ( or ; ), with a population of 453 spread over an area of , is a rural
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
of the
Province of Savona in the
Italian region
Liguria. The municipality is a member of the
Comunità Montana Alta Val Bormida. On May 11, 2017 it was reported that due to a declining population the town's mayor Daniele Galliano recommended a proposal to the Ligurian regional government, and not a confirmed measure, but that it hopes to enact the bonus in 2018 of offering €2,000 ($2,175) and very low rents starting at $50 per month for anyone willing to move there.
Location
Bormida is about west of
Savona (as the crow flies) in the upper
Val Bormida between the mountain peaks of Settepani, elevation , and Ronco di Maglio, elevation . The Bormida di Pallare, a tributary of the
Bormida di Spigno, flows through its territory.
Bormida borders the villages of
Calice Ligure,
Calizzano,
Mallare,
Osiglia,
Pallare, and
Rialto.
History
Bormida probably came into existence in the medieval period. However it does not appear in the documentary record until 1549 when Alfonso Del Carretto, lord of
Finale Ligure, conceded certain privileges to the local population in a
notarized deed.
In 1713, following a period of domination by the
Spanish army, Bormida fell under the jurisdiction of the
Republic of Genoa
The Republic of Genoa ( ; ; ) was a medieval and early modern Maritime republics, maritime republic from the years 1099 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italy, Italian coast. During the Late Middle Ages, it was a major commercial power in ...
. Later in that century it acquired the status of a municipality in its own right, rather than being a part of the municipality of
Osiglia, and was almost completely destroyed by the
French army of
Napoleon Bonaparte during his first Italian campaign.
From 1815 it followed the fortunes of the
Kingdom of Sardinia, becoming part of the
Kingdom of Italy
The Kingdom of Italy (, ) was a unitary state that existed from 17 March 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II of Kingdom of Sardinia, Sardinia was proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, proclaimed King of Italy, until 10 June 1946, when the monarchy wa ...
in 1860.
Architecture
The parish church of San Giorgio, dating back to the year 1200, contains praiseworthy
frescos and a wooden
Madonna
Madonna Louise Ciccone ( ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, ...
attributed to the sculptor
Anton Maria Maragliano
Anton Maria Maragliano (18 September 1664 – 7 March 1739) was an Italian sculptor of the Baroque period, known primarily for his wooden statues. He was born in Genoa, where he led an important workshop.
He is called also Maraggiano by some ...
. The fifteenth-century campanile was remodelled in the
Baroque
The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
style.
The
palazzo "la Ferriera" ("the Iron-works") is surrounded by a large and interesting park. Its name recalls the fact that iron working was the main economic activity of the area in centuries past.
Festivals
The feast of the
Madonna del Carmine is celebrated on 16 July in the locality Piano Sottano, where a small church is dedicated to her.
Economy
The principal bases of the local economy are timber and agriculture. Cereals are grown, livestock is raised and cheese is produced.
Roads and railways
Bormida is situated on the
Strada Provinciale 339 ''di Cengio'' which connects
Cengio to
Cortemilia. There is no direct link to any
autostrada, but from the
Autostrada A6 ''Verdemare'', which links
Turin
Turin ( , ; ; , then ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of the Metropolitan City of Turin, and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. The city is main ...
to
Savona, the
Altare exit is the most convenient.
The nearest railway station is at Altare on the Turin–Savona line.
Demographic evolution
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In May 2017, the mayor of Bormida, Daniele Galliano, announced a scheme to attract more residents to the village. New inhabitants would be offered €2,000 to take up residence, as well as subsidised rent for between €50 - €120 per month. After a flood of inquiries, the mayor clarified that the offer was a proposal to the Ligurian regional government.
References
:''As of 27 October 2007, most of this article was a translation from
:it:Bormida, its counterpart in the
Italian Wikipedia which releases its content under the
GFDL.''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bormida (Sv)
Cities and towns in Liguria