Mornese
Mornese ( Mornèis Piedmontese, Ligurian Morneise, in the local dialect Murneise ) is a municipality with 716 (as of 31 December 2012) inhabitants in the province of Alessandria (AL ), Region Piedmont.
Geography
The municipality is divided into several usually after the long prevailing surnames named fractions ( districts ), including Mazzarelli. The village lies at an altitude of 380 m above sea level, between the Val Lemma and the valley of Gorzente on the last foothills of the Ligurian Apennines, about 100 km southeast of Turin and about 35 km southeast of Alessandria.
The neighboring municipalities are Bosio, Casaleggio Boiro, Montaldeo and Parodi Ligure. A part of the municipality is part of the Parco naturale delle Capanne di Marcarolo.
History
First mentioned in documents from 1188 as Molanesio, it came under the rule of the della Volta Rossa from Genoa, a castle built in 1270. From them dominion went to the Marquis of Montferrat, and finally from 1330 to 1574 to the Counts of Doria. The castle building preserved today dates from the 16th and 17th centuries.
The parish church was originally dedicated to St. Nicholas of Tolentino (1245-1305), then to St.. New Year's Eve. In the basement of the church there is an exhibition of nativity scenes. Both the parish church and the Church of Saint Roch date from the 16th century.
The place is considered the spiritual center of the Salesian family, especially the Salesian Sisters. It is the birthplace of the founder of the largest women today Order of the Roman Catholic Church, Mary Dominica Mazzarello. In the courtyard Valponasca she spent her childhood and youth. In Mornese also the first college of the sisters was built. 1972 for the 100th anniversary medal was from the Salesian Sisters with the help of former students from 57 nations, a church under the patronage of St.. Dedicated to Mary Dominica Mazzarello. Near the mid-19th century is a small church, which is dedicated to St. Lawrence and Mary Help of Christians.
Population Development
In the 19th century increased steadily, had the number of inhabitants in the first quarter of the 20th century, with over 1,600 inhabitants, its maximum and was continuously since then up to just over 700 residents back.
Mayor
Current mayor since June 14, 2004 Marco Giovanni Mazzarello (re-elected in 2009).
Sons and daughters of the town
- Maria Dominica Mazzarello (1837-1881), saint and founder of the Salesian Sisters
- Francesco Bodratto (1823-1880), Salesians and missionary in Argentina
Viniculture
In Mornese vines for the Dolcetto d' Ovada, a red wine are grown with DOC status. The berries of the grape varieties Pinot Noir and / or Chardonnay may be processed for sparkling wine Alta Langa.