Bra Hotel :Nowadays, the economy of Bra is based on industry and agriculture, it is a rich but sober small town with picturesque narrow streets and renewed historic bars, and it is projected into the future thanks to its youth cultural and artistic initiatives.
Bra has ancient origins, the first certified documents about the town date back to 1120, and there are many conjectures about the origins of its name: it could come from “Barderate”, the ancient land of the Ligurians quoted by Pliny, from the Celtic or from the German “Breit” (open countryside).
In the Middle Ages the town was called Brayda, a very common term in northern Italy to indicate the field feoffed to the local lords, who took on this patronymic in Bra. The De Braydas built an imposing castle fortified with towers and moats in the 13th Century. After various transfer of property, the fortress was attacked and destroyed by the French army led by Gian Giacomo Trivulzio in 1515, and it was completely dismantled in 1552. On the other hand, Palazzo Traversa, the fortified noble residence of the Opertis, was spared, and at present it houses the Museum of Archaeology, History and Arts of Bra.
In the surroundings of Palazzo Traversa, you can admire Palazzo Garrone with its elegant grand staircase in Victorian style; the palace creates with the imposing Sant’Andrea church built in 1682 to the design of Guarino Guarini a spectacular background to the Piazza Caduti per la Libertà.
Walking along the path built over one wing of the covered market dating back to the 19th Century, you can reach the monument dedicated to San Benedetto Cottolengo, with his birthplace and a memorial plaque. On the “Rock” you will find many narrow roads descending to the old town and to via Vittorio Emanuele, which is the core of the social and economic life of the town, where you can find greengrocers shops, delicatessen and butchers; you cannot miss the famous confectioneries and bars which still preserve the typical 19th-Century Piedmontese atmosphere.
The jewel of the local sacred architecture is the Church of Santa Chiara, a masterpiece of Piedmontese Baroque built between 1742 and 1748 to the design of Bernardo Vittone, who realized a plan having the form of a quatrefoil, surprisingly wave-like inside and outside walls, stucco decorations and a complex, fretted double dome vault creating wonderful light effects.
Leaving Bra you can still admire the beautiful Zizzola on a hilltop once defended by a fortress near the ancient castle. This small, pretty building with an octagonal plan has become the town symbol, and according to popular belief it was there that the masche – local witches – met during their Sabbaths.
Book with Liguriapocket and get ready to go… hotel Bra, residence Bra.
How to get to Bra
Ospitality in this area:
In this località trovi anche: