Villaggi abbandonati fra Tanaro e Po (X-XIX secolo): una dinamica di lungo periodo

This article investigates rural settlement transformations and deserted villages in a fluvial area, located at the confluence of the Tanaro and the Po rivers. It analyzes several lost villages in the long term, showing how the main reasons for abandonment lie both in the settlement selection process started in the late Middle Ages and in the transformation of the economic role of the river rather than in the destructive action of the waters. In particular, the foundation of Borgofranco Lomellina’s new town changed the geography of the area, starting the decline of the Sparvara castle and of several places subdued to seigneurial jurisdiction. Starting from written sources, this study suggests a more detailed localization of the deserted settlements and contextualizes their development in relation with the local societies.