Gabiano

Gabiano (Gabian in Piedmontese) is a rural comune in the northwest of the province of Alessandria, some 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of Casale Monferrato. This area straddles the lowland immediately south of the Po and the furthest extension of the Monferrato hills. Its current population of some 1,250 has halved since mid-1930s.

Gabiano
Comune
Comune di Gabiano
The castle of Gabiano
Coat of arms
Location of Gabiano
Gabiano
Location of Gabiano in Italy
Gabiano
Gabiano (Piedmont)
Coordinates: 45°9′N 08°12′E
CountryItaly
RegionPiedmont
ProvinceAlessandria (AL)
FrazioniCantavenna, Sessana, Varengo, Zoalengo, Mincengo.[1]
Government
 • MayorDomenico Priora
Area
 • Total17.81 km2 (6.88 sq mi)
Elevation
300 m (1,000 ft)
Population
 (31 December 2010)[2]
 • Total1,250
 • Density70/km2 (180/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Gabianesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
15020
Dialing code0142
Patron saintSaint Peter
Saint day7 April

In addition to the village of Gabiano itself, and to Varengo, which was a commune in its own right until 1928, the 2001 census listed Cantavenna, Piagera and Sessana as the municipality’s primary centres of population. The secondary centres identified were Casaletto, Chioalengo, Martinengo, Mincengo, Serra and Zoalengo. Further localities include Borgatello, Brusasca, Garimanno, Le Ghiaie and Montechiaro.[3][4][5]

The village of Gabiano lies on the southern slopes of a hill dominated by a castle of ancient origins, which was reconstructed in the early twentieth century in the Neo-Gothic style. At the foot of the hill—the original site of the village—is a parish church dedicated to Saint Peter. Although rebuilt in 1690, it retains the twin bell towers from the original medieval building.

Cantavenna, largely rebuilt after the Second World War, has two works of interest by the sculptor Giannino Castiglioni: a bas relief celebrating the “Peasant Defender of Liberty” and the “Fountain of the Emigrants”, which was commissioned by the Italians of Chicago. In the nineteenth century the parish church of San Carpoforo was erected here on the spot where the Jacobins had planted their tree of liberty.

Wine

Two DOC wines with very limited zones of production are produced in the commune. Gabiano is made here and in the neighbouring commune of Moncestino, using the Barbera grape together with 5%–10% of Freisa and/or Grignolino. Rubino di Cantavenna is made in Gabiano, Montecestino, Villamiroglio and part of Camino. Again the predominant grape is Barbera (75%–90%) with Freisa and/or Grignolino making up the remainder.

References and further reading
  1. Statuto Comunale, Comune di Gabiano.
  2. ‘Popolazione residente al 1 Gennaio 2009 per età, sesso e stato civile. Comune: Gabiano’, Statistiche demografiche ISTAT.
  3. Istat, ‘Popolazione residente - Alessandria (dettaglio loc. abitate)’, 2001 Census.
  4. Sandro Lombardini, ‘Comune di Gabiano’, Schede storico-territoriali dei comuni del Piemonte, (Regione Piemonte, 2002).
  5. ‘Frazioni di Gabiano’ Archived 2010-08-28 at the Wayback Machine, Comune di Gabiano.
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