Balestrino (Ligurian: Barestin or Balestrin) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Savona in the Italian region Liguria, located about 70 kilometres (43 mi) southwest of Genoa and about 30 kilometres (19 mi) southwest of Savona. As of 31 December 2011, it had a population of 607[1] and an area of 11.3 square kilometres (4.4 sq mi).[1]
Balestrino | |
|---|---|
| Comune di Balestrino | |
 View of the old town | |
.svg) Balestrino within the Province of Savona | |
Location of Balestrino  | |
  Balestrino Location of Balestrino in Italy  Balestrino Balestrino (Liguria) | |
| Coordinates: 44°7′29.48″N 8°10′28.1″E / 44.1248556°N 8.174472°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Liguria |
| Province | Savona (SV) |
| Frazioni | Bergalla, Borgo, Cuneo, Poggio |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.3 km2 (4.4 sq mi) |
| Population (31 December 2011)[3] | |
| • Total | 607[1] |
| Demonym | Balestrinesi |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 17020 |
| Dialing code | 0182 |
| Website | Official website |
History edit
Balestrino is composed by the old historic town, upon a hill, and the new town below it. Abandoned in 1953 for hydrogeological instability, the old centre is a ghost town[4][5] whereas the modern center is still inhabited today.
Geography edit
Balestrino borders the following municipalities: Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena, Ceriale, Cisano sul Neva, Toirano, and Zuccarello. It counts the hamlets (frazioni) of Bergalla, Borgo, Cuneo, and Poggio.
Demographics edit
Gallery edit
-
The castle -
The new town hall -
A road in the abandoned old town
Other edit
- There are small medieval and renaissance crossbows known as balestrino crossbows (aka assassins crossbows).[6]
References edit
- ^ a b c (in Italian) Source Archived July 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine : ISTAT 2011
- ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
- ^ Article and documentary about Balestrino (English version)
- ^ (in Italian) Article and documentary about Balestrino (Italian version)
- ^ "Balestrino crossbow".
External links edit
Media related to Balestrino at Wikimedia Commons
Balestrino travel guide from Wikivoyage
- (in Italian) Balestrino official website
- (in Italian) Balestrino tourist website