CHRONOLOGY OF THE PRINCIPAL FLOODS FROM THE FOUNDATION OF ALESSANDRIA TO 1994

1168 - The town of Alessandria is founded.

1174 - The flood caused by incessant rains probably protects Alessandria from Federico Barbarossa.

1317 - The extraordinary flood reported by old chronicles strikes the town in September.

1330 - The waters of the river flood the district of Borgoglio (which stood in the place where, at present, the Cittadella, the military fortress is standing. To build it, the district was demolished in 1728).

1463 - The flood of the Tanaro causes the collapse of the masonry bridge during its construction.

1482 - The town, already struck by the plague, has to face the flood of the Tanaro as well. The water of the river washes out the huts, built by the people living in them, in the neighbouring countryside. They had sought refuge there after leaving the town to escape infection. It was considered the heaviest flood both for the width of the flooded area and the quantity of damages caused.

1486 - The flooding of the Tanaro causes the collapse of four arches of the new bridge. To rebuild the construction, the town has to tie down all the revenues of the taxes and excise duties for five years. Moreover every citizen and foreigner living in the area is asked to give a sum of money corresponding to a worker’s daily pay.

1542 - On 13^th August a terrible flood carries away two arches of the masonry bridge.

1569 - The Tanaro overflows its banks and threatens the walls of Borgoglio.

1584 - A new flood carries away one third of the rebuilding works of the bridge executed after a preceding flooding.

1596 - The first news of the flooding of the Orti, a district of a few houses outside the walls of the town, due to very abundant rains, goes back to this date.

1616 - In the month of June a flood of the Tanaro carries away some ships and eight mills to a mile away, even though they were tied and chained to the bridge.

1647 - The Bormida overflows and the Tanaro waters join it up into a single river that carries away everything in its path (trees, mills) and floods a wide area. It is the most memorable flood since the foundation of Alessandria.

1655 - On 26^th April the Tanaro overflows and floods Alessandria.

1657 - On 27^th November the Tanaro overflows and destroys a part of the Church of the Crucifix, a mill at Solero and one in Alessandria.

1688 - After raining for three days, the level of the water of the Tanaro rises up to the bridge and ruins a lot of the houses and kitchen-gardens.

1709 - A new flood occurs and the bridge collapses once again. To cross the river, a temporary boated bridge is built.

1732 - In November a new flood takes place while the Cittadella is being built; the waters demolish a wall not yet fully built and flood the construction site where there are hundreds of workers; they are rescued just in time by the Governor’s dragoons on horseback. The water even floods the food storehouse in town.

1775 - The Tanaro overflows as a result of an earthquake.

1810 - The Tanaro and the Bormida overflow again.

1829 - Because of the incessant rains, the river Tanaro swells exceptionally for nearly all the month of September until 27^th October; it overflows and reaches the Cassana and the new bridge of the Loreto.

1833 - During a new flood of the Tanaro in the month of September a squad of soldiers guarding the powder magazine of the Cittadella is rescued by boat.

1840 - In consequence of the overflowing, the territory undergoes an erosion of a very vast area.

1847 - On 3^rd October an exceptional rise of the level of the river is noted down. It causes the breaking of the banks and the heaviest flood since 1829.

1857 - Because of the very heavy and abnormal flood of the Tanaro in the plain between Alessandria and Solero the damages are considerable.The violence of the waters make some mills drift. The surrounding countryside is devastatingly flooded.

1872 - The incessant rains raise the level of both streams that flood a lot of neighbouring countryside, including Spinetta Marengo; in several farms, the farmers have only got just time to rescue the cattle. Several mills undergo substantial damage and some rooms of the hospital are flooded. The railway is blocked.

1873 - In few months five floods take place.

1879 - The very dangerous flooding of the Tanaro after the incessant rains floods the Orti district, where the water flows in torrents. Some families are rescued by boats. The water does not flood the town thanks to the barrier the soldiers had erected.

1892 - The new flood of the Tanaro hits the Orti district once again causing heavy damage.

1917 - The flood caused by the Tanaro and the other rivers of the province destroys most of the corn and wheat harvest; this calamity hits the population in a period already made dramatic by the First World War.

1937 - The Orti district is the victim of an umpteenth flood.

1948 - In this year two floods take place: one in September and the other one in May. Heavy damages to the railway bridge are reported; the Orti and Astuti districts are hit.

1951 - In February not only Alessandria but also other areas are flooded by the two rivers. The Bormida is eight metres too high and floods the main road to Spinetta completely and the Tanaro rises up three metres. The victims of the flooding are rescued just in time, but the extent of damage, including buildings, lands and public works is enormous. Besides the rivers of Alessandria, the Orba and the Belbo overflow as well.

1977 - In this year a lot of areas are flooded again.

1994 - The last disastrous flood takes place: the water reaches P.tta della Lega, in the heart of the town.