ガルバーニャ周辺のアトラクション＆必見スポット - トップ20

"The Fourth Estate" (1901) by Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedo is a famous oil on canvas depicting a march of laborers, set in Piazza Malaspina in Volpedo (Alessandria). A symbol of workers' struggle, the work combines Pointillist technique and social themes. It is now housed at the Museo del Novecento in Milan.

Up here, on Monte Giarolo, the hiker won't find the classic summit cross that crowns many mountains. Instead, on a pedestal divided into two sections, stands the figure of the Risen Christ, adorned with a cross. Christ raises one arm in greeting—or rather, in blessing—and with the other, he embraces the cross, that gruesome symbol of suffering and death, which, through his resurrection, he transformed into a glorious symbol of victory over death.

At 1,473 meters above sea level, the peak of Mount Giarolo is on the so-called Ligurian Apennines but in the province of Alessandria, Piedmont. It is the northernmost point of the Antola chain and divides the Borbera and Curone valleys. On the summit there is a statue of Christ the Redeemer.

The Feast of the Redeemer has been celebrated on Mount Giarolo since the beginning of the last century, when the first statue of the Redeemer was erected on August 11, 1901 (replaced with the new one exactly one hundred years later) in order to celebrate the 19th centenary of the birth of Christ. It was inaugurated by the Bishop of Tortona who, for the occasion, promoted a diocesan pilgrimage in which approximately 12,000 faithful participated. Since then, every year on the first Sunday of August tourists and faithful go to the top of the mountain to renew the tradition.

I know this photo from the film "1900" by Bertolucci

The top of the mountain can be reached starting from Cantalupo Ligure, Borgo Adorno and Albera Ligure (Val Borbera), from Giarolo (Val Museglia) and from Caldirola (Val Curone). The view from the top extends north and west over the plain up to the Alpine range with the profiles of Monviso, Cervino and Rosa. In the other directions the panorama shows the nearest mountains Boglelio, Penice, Lesima, Ebro, Chiappo, Monte Antola, other peaks of the Ligurian Apennines up to the Ligurian Sea, visible on the clearest days. (source Wikipedia)

Quarto Stato Volpedo Square

Piazza Castello (or Piazza del Palazzo, but also Piazza Malaspina in the popular version accepted by Pellizza himself, today Piazza Quarto Stato), is the place where the painter, between 1891 and 1901, places the advance of the workers. The square was born towards the middle of the 19th century with the renovation of the stately building, commissioned by the new owners Malaspina, who created a new access on the western side. Giuseppe Pellizza painted The Fourth Estate between 1898 and 1901; the work was the fruit of a long creative journey inspired by the protest of a group of workers, for which he had farmers and artisans chosen from among his fellow villagers from Volpedo pose.