40th Anniversary Celebrations of the Bernardino Cervis Academy - Napoleonic Era

Forty years of culture in Monferrato

In May 2026, the Municipality of Frassineto Po, a small village in the Province of Alessandria overlooking the great river in the Casale Monferrato area, celebrates an important anniversary: the fortieth anniversary of the Bernardino Cervis Cultural Academy. Founded on March 18, 1986, in the local parish house, the Academy has spent decades dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of local historical and artistic heritage, cultural promotion, and the recovery of the memory of the figures who shaped the history of this Piedmontese land.

The Napoleonic era comes alive in Frassineto Po

For its fortieth anniversary, the Academy has chosen a highly evocative theme: the Napoleonic era. Frassineto Po, like all of Piedmont, experienced firsthand the profound political, social, and religious transformations brought about by the French advance between the 18th and 19th centuries. The celebrations weave together grand History with the intimate history of the village, bringing to light unpublished documents preserved in the parish and municipal archives.

Between re-enactments, exhibitions, and lectures

The heart of the event is the planting of the Tree of Liberty and Peace at the Giardino del Pozzo Antico, a symbolic gesture recalling the trees of liberty planted in every municipality during the Napoleonic era. Adding color to the event is the extraordinary participation of soldiers in period uniforms from the 59ème demi-brigade d'infanterie de ligne, who bring the martial atmosphere of Marengo back to life.

At Palazzo Mossi, the exhibition Frassineto Po in the time of Bernardino Cervis takes shape, while the University of Turin brings the rigor of academic research with a lecture dedicated to Napoleonic Piedmont. The weekend concludes in the spirit of religious tradition, with the Ambrosian Walk along the banks of the Po and a solemn Holy Mass.

Who was Bernardino Cervis

The Academy takes its name from Bernardino Cervis, a historical figure from Frassineto to whom the association has dedicated forty years of study and research. The event is a precious opportunity to discover an authentic corner of the Alessandria Monferrato, far from the major tourist circuits but rich in history, culture, and popular traditions.