BERGOLO
Bergolo is a calm village of 50 inhabitants, located on the hills of Piedmont, it is the smallest commune of the Langhe, and one of the smallest of the whole Italy, but it was one of the first to realize how this territory could be touristically, culturally and socially important, and to build modern accommodating and recreational facilities.
​
The town is also called "villaggio di pietra"- all houses have been restored using local sandstone, and the roads have been remade in paving. Such an homogeneity is difficult to find in other places. According to the ancient etymology, the name "Bergolo" means "the place where heath grows"; the town was founded around the year 1000.
Heritage sites
Church
Chiesa Parrochiale della Natività
Chapple
Cappella Romanica di San Sebastiano
1592 - 1634 (construction of the entire estate)
In 1592 the old church of St. Sebastian was banned due to its condition. In 1634 the 'novam ecclesiam sub titulo Nativitatis Beate Marie Virginis' is documented for the first time.
The church has an unusual (for the time and the region) Greek cross apsidal plan, with arms covered by barrel vaults, except for the presbytery, which has a ribbed vault, and a dome on the cross. The apse, on the other hand, is concluded by a semi-catinous bowl with ribs and nails. The façade appears incongruent with the development of the central space. At first glance, it is difficult to understand the usefulness of the two lateral salient sectors, which evoke the presence of side aisles (or, at most, chapels inserted between the arms of the Greek cross); but it is probable that they were added to make the elevation uniform when the bell tower was added.
​
Early 12th - mid 12th century (construction of entire property)
The spatial and decorative structure suggests a date within the middle of the 12th century.
This is one of the best-preserved (and most fascinating, due to its isolated and panoramic position) examples of 12th-century Romanesque architecture in the Langa area. It is a building with an aula made entirely of cut stone, with an exposed roof structure. The sides (up to the flight of the hanging arches) and the apse are still intact, and it is probably the best known, together with that of Cortemilia, in the area.
Theatre
Il teatro della pietra
Towers
June 24, 2016 open
​
Bergolo was famous from the 1970s to the 90s for music and street entertainment, which attract groups of tourists and young people from all over the world. To revitalize the vibe and town, a new cultural project aiming for the construction of the theater started: a huge theatre with 250 seats made of sandstone on the Collina del Vento.
​
​
12th Century
​
A brief detour from Bergolo to Levice of around a hundred metres along a dirt road will take you what’s left of the tower of this village, first established here in the early Middle Ages and then moved lower along the current main highway where Levice is located today.
​
The ruins of the so-called “castle” (actually, a fortified watchtower) date back to the 12th Century too; nowadays they are barely visible in the woods on the top of the “Bricco delle Forche”.