ÈAbbazia di San Quintino is the oldest monument in Spigno, which bears the special bond of the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape of the Province of Alessandria. 4 May 2021 marked the 1030th anniversary of the foundation of the monastery, which was run in the first centuries by Benedictine monks. The deed, called ‘Charta offersionis’, was stipulated by the descendants of the legendary Aleramo in the castle of Visone on 4 May 991. It lists the lands and goods given to the abbey, representing a vast territory. The monks followed the rule of St Benedict ‘Ora et Labora’, combining religious life and prayer with manual labour. With this association, the monastery became a centre of social emancipation, promoting learning, cultivation and trade. After several centuries of decadence and the Napoleonic period, when it was occupied and plundered by French troops (incidentally, 5 May 2021 marks the bicentenary of Napoleon Bonaparte’s death), it was nationalised and sold to private individuals. The monument is still private and, unfortunately, cannot be visited.
