  alessandria  (lissandria in piedmontese) is a city and comune in piedmont, italy, and the capital of the province of alessandria. the city is sited on the alluvial plain between the tanaro and the bormida rivers, about  southeast of turin. alessandria is also a major railway hub. ==history== alessandria was founded in 1168 with a charter as a free commune; 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. alessandria stood in the territories of the marchese of montferrat, a staunch ally of the emperor, with a name assumed in 1168 to honor the emperor's opponent, pope alexander iii. in 1174â75 the fortress was sorely tested by imperial siege and stood fast. a legend (related in umberto eco's book baudolino, and which recalls one concerning bishop herculanusâ successful defense of perugia several centuries earlier) says it was saved by a quick-witted peasant, gagliaudo: he fed his cow with the last grain remaining within the city, then took it outside the city walls until he reached the imperial camp. here he was captured, and his cow cut open to be cooked: when the imperials found the cow's stomach filled with grain, gagliaudo was
Alessandria Cities_and_towns_in_Piedmont Communes_of_the_Province_of_Alessandria Jewish_Italian_history