Serravalle Scrivia, Italian comune
Serravalle Scrivia is a commune in the Province of Alessandria, in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy, sitting where the Scrivia river cuts through a valley between low hills. The old center has narrow streets lined with stone buildings, and just outside town lie the remains of the ancient Roman city of Libarna.
The settlement was founded in the 12th century as a strategic point along trade routes connecting the Po plain to the Mediterranean coast. Over time it passed through the hands of different noble families, each leaving traces in the form of towers, churches, and walls still partly visible today.
The name Serravalle refers to the way the land closes in around the Scrivia valley, forming a natural passage that shaped how the settlement grew. Visitors walking through the old center can still notice the layout of streets that follow this narrow corridor between the hills.
The town sits near a main road corridor in northwestern Italy and is straightforward to reach by car or regional train. The old center and the Libarna archaeological area are both walkable, though the uneven stone surfaces call for comfortable footwear.
The Roman city of Libarna was rediscovered by chance in the 19th century during railway construction work, when workers uncovered walls and mosaic floors just below the surface. Some of the finds recovered then, including everyday objects and inscriptions, are now kept in the town hall building.
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