Claim: The Alessandria–Piacenza railway first connected Alessandria, first founded in 1168, and Casteggio and eventually connected to Rome.
Evidence: The first section, between Alessandria and Casteggio was opened on 25 January 1858. Alessandria was founded in 1168 with a charter as a free comune; it was sited upon a preexisting urban nucleus, to serve as a stronghold for the Lombard League, defending the traditional liberties of the communes of northern Italy against the Imperial forces of Frederick Barbarossa.