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Alba, (CN)

Alba
Alba pompeia
Comune
Città di Alba
View of the city of Alba
View of the city of Alba
Coat of arms of Alba
Coat of arms
Alba is located in Italy
Alba
Alba
Location of Alba in Italy
Coordinates: 44°42′N 08°02′E / 44.700°N 8.033°E / 44.700; 8.033Coordinates: 44°42′N 08°02′E / 44.700°N 8.033°E / 44.700; 8.033
Country Italy
Region Piedmont
Province / Metropolitan city Cuneo (CN)
Frazioni Altavilla, Gallo, Madonna di Como, Mussotto d'Alba, Piana Biglini, San Rocco Cherasca, San Rocco Seno d'Elvio, Santa Rosalia, Scaparone
Government
 • Mayor Maurizio Marello (since June 23, 2009)
Area
 • Total 54 km2 (21 sq mi)
Elevation 172 m (564 ft)
Population (31 December 2011)
 • Total 31,667
 • Density 590/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Albesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 12051
Dialing code 173
Patron saint St. Lawrence
Saint day August 10
Website Official website

Alba (Latin: Alba Pompeia) is a town and comune of Piedmont, Italy, in the province of Cuneo. It is considered the capital of the UNESCO Human Heritage hilly area of Langhe, and is famous for its white truffle, peach and wine production. The confectionery group Ferrero is based there.

Alba's origins date from before the Roman civilization, connected probably to the presence of Celtic and Ligurian tribes in the area.

The modern town occupies the site of ancient Alba Pompeia, the name given after being officially recognized as a town by the Roman consul Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo while constructing a road from Aquae Statiellae (Acqui) to Augusta Taurinorum (Turin). Alba was the birthplace of Publius Helvius Pertinax, briefly Roman emperor in 193.

After the fall of the Western Empire, the city was repeatedly sacked by Ostrogoths, Burgundians, Byzantines, Lombards, Franks, Hungarians and Saracens. In the 11th century it became a free commune (or city-state) and was a member of the Lombard League. Montferrat and the Visconti fought over the town; later it became a possession of the Gonzaga. Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy conquered it twice, while later France and Spain battled for its possession. The Treaty of Cherasco (1631) assigned Alba definitively to Savoy. During Napoleonic Wars, it was part of the Republic of Alba (1796) and of the Subalpine Republic, both French clients, before being annexed to the French Empire in 1802. It was an arrondissement center in firstly Tanaro department between 1802-1805, later in Stura one between 1805-1814 before liberation by Austrian troops. It was returned to Kingdom of Sardinia (Duchy of Savoy's name after gaining Sardinia in 1720) in 1814.


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