Villalvernia

Villalvernia is a comune, population 932, in the Province of Alessandria in Piedmont, Italy, situated in a hilly area on the right bank of the Scrivia.

History

Probably founded during the tenth century, and simply called Villa, the town was partially enfeoffed to the bishops of Tortona by Pope Adrian IV (Nicholas Breakspear). In 1413 Filippo Maria Visconti enfeoffed it to Guglielmo d’Alvernia. The village remained with the Alvernias for 167 years, which explains the “alvernia” part of the placename.

In 1580, after the wedding of Francesco with Antonia Alvernia, the feud passed to the Spinola family. In 1652 the feudatories obtained the title of Marquess from Philip IV, King of Spain.

On December 1 1944, the village was bombed by the United States air force, which was targeting the railway offices which had been transferred from Genoa. 114 inhabitants were killed, and 235 wounded in the bombing.Fact|date=June 2007