Lerma
Clear, fresh water with traces of gold.

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The town of Lerma extends in the valleys of streams Gorzente and Piota and includes hills and slopes Apennine rich in fossils. The Albarola tower, to the right of Piota, is a testimony of signaling towers that communicated from one ridge. The primitive village developed after the Roman conquest of the territory.  The castle that dominates the overhang on the underlying haughty Piota was rebuilt on a more ancient nucleus in 1499 by Marchese Luca Spinola, whose family still owns the building. The building has walls on a steep slope, supported by a triple series of arches in tiers, a cylindrical tower with several floors and other quadrangular base. A big embossed cornice is supported by small arches and surrounded by a beautiful battlement. On the old town square, which leads to the castle, you can still admire the apse of the parish, founded by the transformation of one of the towers, which houses works of art of great artistic value such as a fresco that came to light recently that dates back to 1608.
Both Gorzente and Piota were first exploited by the Romans and the Lombards after the search for gold and, according to tradition, in the area had to be a building where the precious metal was stored. Even in small quantities, the banks of the two rivers have yet borne fruit until the early twentieth century.
For the passing tourist in Lerma, it is expected a visit to the castle, if you have a special permit, a visit to the Parish and the Romanesque church of Saint G. Battista the cemetery where there are to be admired Giotto school frescoes dating back to the fifteenth century and, in north wall, the "passion of Christ" by cycles of paintings with clear Nordic references, almost unique in this area.
A stop on the panoramic square allows the view on the beautiful set of the Monferrato's hills. On the occasion of the Festa Nuova, which falls on the first Sunday of June at the sanctuary of N.S. Rocchetta, you must visit the shrine whose interior contains, among other fine works, a beautiful altarpiece.
Lerma also offers a sports park with swimming pool and tennis courts. A cheer dancing afternoons and evenings. In the music of the band are dedicated performances of the Philharmonic Society, the exhibition "Music in the Monferrato castles" which consists of evenings concerts in the outdoors of the castle. Very popular are the annual Festival of St. Giovanni Battista, that of the Holy Martyrs (3rd Sunday of October) and the one of St. Mark which falls on April 25. "The mushroom and Dolcetto festival " is organized every year by the Pro Loco.
Local productions: the area is exploited as beautiful vineyard with the typical Dolcetto production and other wines.

Il portale del castello e la chiesa.

Una via antica.