Cortemilia

Built in Roman times at the point where the Uzzone river flows into the Bòrmida, Cortemilia still has a number of medieval features and is composed of two villages: San Michele on the left of the Bòrmida and San Pantaleo on the right. The centre of the village of San Michele is Piazza Oscar Molinari, which is opposite a hill dominated by the ruins of the medieval castle. The 15th-century tower-house overlooking the square was formerly the magistrate's court building and is now the site of the Ecomuseum of Terraces and Grapevines. Leading off from the square is Via Dante Alighieri, lined with porticoes, some of which still have their old wooden ceilings. In the village of San Pantaleo, Via San Francesco leads to the Church of St Pantaleon, which was rebuilt in 1579 and extended in the 17th century with a beautiful cuspidate bell tower. The main street comes out at Piazza Savona, in the heart of the village. Via della Pieve leads to the Romanesque church of the Madonna della Pieve, which dates back to the 11th century but was partially rebuilt in the 13th century.