The name Fossano could be the transformation of the name "locus" or "fundus faucianus", from the Roman first name Faucius, or derive from the word "fossato", in Piedmontese "fossà", from which "fossan".The sinkings are in fact characteristic of the hill on which the first city village rose. The historians agree speaking about “great ditch of the Chiotto”in dialect Ciot, hole, pit... Another alternative hypothesis is that the name comes from the latin “fons sana", to indicate the presence in the proximitiy of a drinkable water spring.
Main sights
Old town
The old section of Fossano lies in the high part of the town. It is divided in two borghi : Borgo Piazza, developed in the 15th through 18th centuries, and Borgo Vecchio, dating from the Middle Ages. Rich in mediaeval, Renaissance and Baroque buildings, it is characterized by the ancient portici, built on both sides of via Roma but also along other streets, such as via Cavour, via Garibaldi, via Barotti, via Muratori. On the Eastern side, the old town is delimited by viale Mellano, a pedestrian promenade with views of Langhe; while on the Western side, along via Martiri dell'Indipendenza, viale Sacerdote and viale Bianco, there is a view of South-western Alps, whose apex is Monviso. Some sections of the ancient town walls are still extant.
Castle of the Princes of Acaja
The castle with four high towers, begun by Filippo d'Acaia in 1314 and finished in 1332. It has a square plan with four powerful towers at each side, connected by passages with merlons. One century later Amadeus VIII of Savoy turned it into a ducal residence; the beautiful inner courtyard, designed by Gaspare Solari, is from the late 15th century. After serving as jail and barracks, the castle is now the seat of cultural events and houses a regional library.
Other sights
The cathedral was reconstructed at the end of the 18th century in Neoclassical style, replacing the former 13th century church. The town's hospital and the Trinity Church were designed by Francesco Gallo in the 18th century. The Palazzo del Comandante is a Baroque building constructed in the 17th century. There are also Mineral Baths and a center for agriculture and cattle-breeding.
Blessed Giacomo Alberione, priest and founder of the Society of Saint Paul and nine other orders and secular institutes of consecrated life altogether known as the Pauline Family; born in Fossano, influential in the development of Vatican II's Inter Mirifica, built Regina degli Apostoli alla Montagnola in Rome, blessed on his death bed by Pope Paul VI, and beatified by Pope John Paul IIApril 23, 2003.
