# Centallo

Centallo is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Cuneo in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of Turin and about 13 kilometres (8 mi) north of Cuneo.
It contains the frazioni (subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) San Biagio and Roata Chiusani.
It borders the following municipalities: Castelletto Stura, Cuneo, Fossano, Montanera, Tarantasca, and Villafalletto.

## Geography

The territory of Centallo covers an area of 44 square kilometres (17 square miles) and borders the municipalities of Cuneo, Villafalletto, Fossano, Montanera, Castelletto Stura, and Tarantasca. It is located at an elevation of 424 meters above sea level, and the terrain is predominantly flat. To the west of the town flows the Grana River, while to the east along the border appears theStura di Demonte River.

## History

Centallo occupies a strategic position with ancient Roman origins. It was sought after by Cuneo, Saluzzo, and the House of Savoy. During the Lombard period, the territory was under the influence of the Abbey of San Dalmazzo di Pedona. It is first mentioned in a donation from the mid-11th century. The town has a history of being a sought-after area, even attracting the second son of the King of England. Eventually, the Bolleri family, connected to the King of France, established themselves in Centallo, surviving until the extinction of their lineage. In the 16th century, as conflicts intensified in the northern Italian territory between the French and the Spanish, Centallo began to emerge as an important area. The sieges brought attention to the area, with Torquato Tasso, the author of "Jerusalem Delivered", recounting the "liberation" of Centallo by Spanish forces coming to the aid of trapped Cuneo and Fossano, which were against the French. The part of the castle that resisted the siege was finally destroyed in 1589. From this period onward, Centallo became known as a significant agricultural center.

### Symbols

The coat of arms of the municipality of Centallo was officially recognized by decree of the Head of Government on June 19, 1931. The flag appears "red, with a blue belt charged with three heraldic golden roses, studded with the same and placed in a band." The belt is a play on words related to the toponym and is derived from the coat of arms of the family that once ruled the town, known as Da Centallo (Red, with a blue belt edged and adorned in gold, placed in a bar). The emblem, granted by D.C.G. on August 4, 1933, is imprinted in a purple cloth.

### Honors

   With generous and spontaneous altruistic fervor, the entire population came to the aid of the girls residing in the local orphanage, which had been destroyed by a bombing with high-explosive devices dropped by an allied aircraft. In an extraordinary display of solidarity, numerous volunteers tirelessly dug with their bare hands through the rubble to extract the victims and the severely injured survivors, carrying them on foot to the local hospital, despite the threat of air raid alarms and curfew. A clear example of unconditional love for others and elevated civic virtues.
* Bronze Medal for Civil Merit - ribbon for regular uniform

## Attractions
### Religious Architectures

* Parish Church of San Giovanni Battista
* Church of San Michele
* Church of San Rocco
* Church of the Saints Sebastiano and Battista Decollato
* Church of the Holy Trinity
* Church of Santa Maria ad Nives (or Madonna degli Alteni)
* Chapel of San Quirico
* Chapel of San Giovanni Evangelista, a popular attraction, which contains paintings from the early 16th centur,y depicting the life of the respective saint in 12 panels.
* Chapel of Madonna dei Prati
* Chapel of San Giuliano
* Temple of Madonna di Loreto dei Boschetti
* Parish Church of San Biagio
* Chapel of San Rocco dei Gerbidi in San Biagio
* Chapel of Sant' Anna (di Boirino) in San Biagio
* Parish Church of San Bernardo in Roata Chiusani
* Oratory or Temple of San Giovanni Battista
* Remains of the church of S. Colomba, in the locality of S. Colomba.

### Museums

* Museum and Birthplace of Cardinal Michele Pellegrino, located in the hamlet of Roata Chiusani.

## Demography
### Ethnicities and Foreign Minorities

According to Italian National Institute of Statistics data as of December 31, 2017, foreign citizens residing in Centallo amounted to 798 people, distributed by nationality, listed in the most significant nationalities::
* Albania, 187
* Romania, 122
* Morocco, 111
* India, 58
* Senegal, 56
* Ivory Coast, 45
* Philippines, 45
* Nigeria, 43
* Burkina Faso, 23

## Culture
### Schools

Centallo is home to the following schools:

#### Public Schools

* Kindergarten
* Primary School in the main town
* Primary School in the Roata Chiusani hamlet
* Lower Secondary School "M. Isoardo"

#### Private Schools

* Kindergarten "Giovanni Arese" in the San Biagio hamlet
* Kindergarten "Margaria Macesi" in the Roata Chiusani hamlet

### Libraries

* Civic Library "Faustino Dalmazzo"

### Events

* Patronal Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels on the second Sunday of October.
* Biennial Festival of Beans and Peppers in the month of September.
* Feast of Saint Isidore on the second Sunday of May.

## Economy

The economy is driven by agriculture, pig farming, fish farms made possible by the presence of canals, feed mills, slaughterhouses, furniture, and other industries in the area. The production of musical instruments, such as organs, both modern and antique, is highly renowned.
The typical cultivation in Centallo is Cuneo Beans.
The municipality was awarded the "Green Ears" prize by FEE Italy for 2021.

## Infrastructure and Transportation
### Roads

The municipality is crossed by the regional road 20 del Colle di Tenda and the state road 231 di Santa Vittoria. The main town is located 8 km from the Cuneo Centro exit of the A33 Asti-Cuneo motorway.

### Railways

Centallo is served by the Torino-Cuneo and Fossano-Cuneo-Limone railway lines.

### Urban Mobility

Line 8 (Conurbation of Cuneo) - route: Cuneo Cap. Stazione FS - P. Torino - Madonna dell'Olmo - via Torino - Centallo Cap.
This way, the municipality is connected to the city of Cuneo, allowing citizens access to other public transportation options, both urban and suburban, and to the Cuneo railway station. Additionally, during the school term, there is a bus service connecting to the Hotel Management Institute in Dronero (line 188).

### Airports

Centallo is located 5 kilometers from the Cuneo-Levaldigi International Airport.

## Sports
### Football

The main football team in the city is Giovanile Centallo, established in 2006 (succeeding the former A.S. Centallo) and competing in regional amateur leagues.