Breolungi – Sacred Art and History in the Surrounding Region

Breolungi combines sacred art with archaeological traces and a history spanning from the Late Bronze Age to the Middle Ages. The focal point is the Antica Pieve di Santa Maria. It has a Baroque altar with the wooden group L’Assunta from 1850 by Antonio Roasio. At the same time, it is considered possibly the oldest medieval building in the Monregalese area.

For individual travel planning in Breolungi, travelers can note sacred art at the Pieve, the historic festival tradition of San Gottardo, the settlement site on the Pesio, and destinations in the surrounding region as separate themes for their trip.

Sacred Art and the History of San Gottardo

A 15th-century portico at Pieve Santa Maria di Bredolo protects 15th-century frescoes attributed to Rufino d'Alessandria. The portico and the frescoes date from the same 15th-century period.

San Gottardo is the co-patron saint of Breolungi. Historically, his feast was celebrated in Breolungi on May 2. It included a novena and, on the feast day, a solemn procession with eight riders in traditional costumes. The procession with eight riders complemented the novena with a clearly defined festival tradition.

Traces from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages

In the Early Middle Ages, the site of Breolungi became the main center of the Carolingian Comitatus Bredulensis, which extended from Valle Stura to Valle Tanaro. However, the historical significance of the place goes back further: archaeological excavations in Breolungi uncovered protohistoric material and pottery demonstrating human settlement from the Late Bronze Age. The Bronze Age settlement therefore predates the Carolingian main center.

The early inhabitants of this area near Breolungi belonged to the Liguri Bagienni tribe before the Romans followed them. The Liguri Bagienni and the Romans are therefore among the area's early historical references near Breolungi.

River Landscape and Destinations in the Surrounding Region

Historically, the settlement on the site of today's Breolungi was located on a plateau on the right bank of the Pesio, at a particularly easy place to cross the river. In the wider surrounding region of Breolungi are Monte Moro di Frabosa and the summit of Monte Malanotte. The Pesio River and the plateau thus form the two specific landscape references of the historic settlement site.

In the immediate vicinity of Breolungi are Palazzo Fauzone, a palace, Museo Della Ceramica Di Mondovi', a museum, and Monastero di Santa Maria, a monastery. Also nearby are the Giardini del Belvedere garden and Parco Europa park.

More Destinations

More destinations: Demonte, Castiglione Falletto, Govone, Moretta, Treiso, Valdieri, Bra, Montelupo Albese

To the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.