Balestrino

Balestrino (Ligurian: Barestin or Balestrin) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Savona in the Italian region Liguria, located about 70 kilometres (43 mi) southwest of Genoa and about 30 kilometres (19 mi) southwest of Savona. As of 31 December 2011, it had a population of 607^[3] and an area of 11.3 square kilometres (4.4 sq mi).^[3]

Balestrino
Comune
Comune di Balestrino
View of the old town
Coat of arms
Balestrino within the Province of Savona
Location of Balestrino
Balestrino Location of Balestrino in Italy Show map of Italy Balestrino Balestrino (Liguria) Show map of Liguria
Coordinates: 44°7′29.48″N 8°10′28.1″E
Country	Italy
Region	Liguria
Province	Savona (SV)
Frazioni	Bergalla, Borgo, Cuneo, Poggio
Area [1]
• Total	11.3 km2 (4.4 sq mi)
Population  (31 December 2011)[2]
• Total	607[3]
Demonym	Balestrinesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	17020
Dialing code	0182
Website	Official website

History

Balestrino is composed by the old historic town, upon a hill, and the new town below it. Abandoned in 1953 for hydrogeological instability, the old centre is a ghost town^[4][5] whereas the modern center is still inhabited today.

Geography

Balestrino borders the following municipalities: Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena, Ceriale, Cisano sul Neva, Toirano, and Zuccarello. It counts the hamlets (frazioni) of Bergalla, Borgo, Cuneo, and Poggio.

Demographics

Gallery

• 
  The castle
• 
  The new town hall
• 
  A road in the abandoned old town

Other

• There are small medieval and renaissance crossbows known as balestrino crossbows (aka assassins crossbows).^[6]

References

1. "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
2. "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
3. (in Italian) Source Archived July 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine : ISTAT 2011
4. Article and documentary about Balestrino (English version)
5. (in Italian) Article and documentary about Balestrino (Italian version)
6. "Balestrino crossbow".

External links

Media related to Balestrino at Wikimedia Commons Balestrino travel guide from Wikivoyage

• (in Italian) Balestrino official website
• (in Italian) Balestrino tourist website