The Rotaldo, known in its upper course as the Laio, is a river (classified as a ''
torrente'') of northern
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
, and a right-side tributary of the
Po River. Most of its course falls within the
Province of Alessandria
The province of Alessandria (; ; in Piedmontese of Alessandria: ''provinsa ëd Lissändria'') is an Italian Provinces of Italy, province, with a population of some 425,000, which forms the southeastern part of the region of Piedmont. The prov ...
and all of it within the former
Province of Casale. The river is of modest flow and is heavily reliant on rainfall with a discharge near its mouth of .
The river is born on the slopes of Madonna dei Monti near
Grazzano Badoglio in the
Province of Asti
The province of Asti (; Piedmontese language, Piedmontese: ''provincia d'Ast'') is a Provinces of Italy, province in the Piedmont region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Asti. To the northwest it borders on the Metropolitan City of Turin; ...
, close to one of the springs of the
Grana del Monferrato. Its early course makes an arc through the hills of the
Basso Monferrato, heading first west-southwest before curving gradually to west-northwest. It receives waters from a number of small streams to its left and passes through the
communes of
Olivola and between
Vignale Monferrato and
Frassinello Monferrato.
At Roncaglia, it is joined at the left by a second branch whose main source is in the hills near
Ottiglio; this second branch has been joined by streams rising in
Sala Monferrato,
Cella Monte, and
Rosignano Monferrato. From the right, it receives streams arising in
Camagna Monferrato and
Conzano. At San Maurizio (near
Occimiano), it is joined from the left by a further branch with origins near
Terruggia. Entering the
Casalese plain, the Rotaldo River follows a sinuous course, passing through
Borgo San Martino,
Ticineto, and
Valmacca where it is joined from the left by the
Gattola. It enters the Po River at
Bozzole.
References
*
Monferrato
Rivers of the Province of Asti
Rivers of the Province of Alessandria
Rivers of Italy
{{Italy-river-stub