Presentation of the volume “The Cult of San Valerio in Lu Monferrato

On Friday, May 29, 2026, at 9:00 PM, the Giovanni Canna Civic Library in Casale Monferrato will host a presentation of the book "The Cult of Saint Valerius in Lu Monferrato. History of a Civic and Religious Identity," a historical essay by Bruno Ferrero, written in collaboration with Alessandro Togneri. Archival research conducted over thirty years has allowed us to reconstruct a vast documentary heritage dedicated to the cult of Saint Valerius, highlighting its centuries-old presence not only in Lu Monferrato but also in numerous towns in the surrounding area. The material collected by the author, organized into forty narrative sequences arranged chronologically, presents a complex historical journey that intertwines popular devotion, religious events, and relationships with the Casale area. During the presentation, engineer Alessandro Togneri, who collaborated on the graphic design of the volume, will delve into the famous episode of the sacrilegious theft of the saint's relics, which occurred in Lu in 1720. Through the digital animation of two eighteenth-century engravings by Casale artist Baldassarre Porta, one dedicated to the village of Lu and the other to the city of Casale, the different phases of that event will be visually retraced, highlighting the strong historical connection between the two communities. Professor Bruno Ferrero will finally focus on the centuries-old relationship between the cult of Saint Valerio and Casale Monferrato, drawing particular attention to the studies and analyses of three important figures in Casale Monferrato's historiography between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries: Fulgenzio Alghisi, Benedetto Colli, and Giuseppe De Conti. Participation in the initiative, organized in collaboration with the Arte e Storia association, is free of charge, subject to availability. For further information, please contact the Civic Library at 0142.444246 and 0142.444297, or by email at bibliote@comune.casale-monferrato.al.it