| Acqui Terme | |
| Official Name: | Comune di Acqui Terme |
| Coordinates: | 44.6833°N 36°W |
| Region: | Piedmont |
| Province: | Alessandria (AL) |
| Frazioni: | Lussito, Ovrano, Moirano |
| Mayor Party: | Five Star Movement |
| Mayor: | Lorenzo Lucchini |
| Area Total Km2: | 33.42 |
| Population Total: | 19961 |
| Population As Of: | 30 April 2017 |
| Population Demonym: | Acquesi |
| Elevation M: | 156 |
| Saint: | Guido of Acqui |
| Day: | June 11 |
| Postal Code: | 15011 |
| Area Code: | 0144 |
Acqui Terme (pronounced as /it/; Àich pronounced as /ˈɑi̯k/) is a city and comune in the province of Alessandria, Piedmont, northern Italy. It is about 35km (22miles) south-southwest of Alessandria. It is one of the principal winemaking communes of the Italian DOCG wine Brachetto d'Acqui.[1]
The city's hot sulphur springs have been famous since this was the Roman town of Aquae Statiellae; the ancient baths are referred to by Paulus Diaconus and the chronicler Liutprand of Cremona. In 1870 Giovanni Ceruti designed a small pavilion, known as La Bollente, for the spot at the centre of the town where the water temperature up to 75C.
During the Roman period, the region was connected by road with Alba Pompeia and Augusta Taurinorum (Turin) and was populated by the local Celto-Ligurian tribe of the Statielli. The region was subject to Roman rule after their main center, Carystum (Acqui Terme), was attacked in 173 BC by the legions led by the consul Marcus Popilius Laenas. The Statielli did not oppose resistance, but in contravention of the Roman law of war, the consul killed thousands of them, reduced the other Gauls to slavery, and began to organize the sale of slaves from the population. Some of them were transferred to the north of the Po, but others survived free in small villages in the surrounding areas that remained outside of Roman rule. In 2008 a necropolis was found in the nearby town of Montabone.[2] The remains show that the Statielli conserved their own customs and traditions for the entire the first century B.C., and likely after.
While controlled by Rome, an important town was built over Carystum, known for the natural thermal waters and spas. The remains of the aqueduct which supplied the waters and springs can still be found near the center of the town, along the river Bormida.
In the 6th century, Acqui became part of the Lombard kingdom of northern Italy. It was ruled by its bishop from 978, becoming an independent commune in 1135. In 1278 it was annexed to the Marquisate of Montferrat, to which it belonged until the acquisition by the Duchy of Savoy.
It was connected by a railway line to Genoa in 1892.
Jews first settled in Acqui in the 15th century. Initially, the Gonzaga dynasty was benevolent towards them, refusing to comply with the Papal order to confiscate the Talmud in 1553, and protecting them from civilian mob violence. In 1570, however, Jews were required to wear the yellow badge; in the 16th and 17th centuries, the community experienced restrictions such as being forbidden to appear in public on feast days. In 1848, the Jewish ghetto was abolished, which included the destruction of the old synagogue. In 1881, a new synagogue was construction, which still stands, as of 2024.[3]
Acqui Terme is twinned with:
The city of Acqui was the namesake for the 33rd Infantry Division "Acqui" of the Royal Italian Army, which was active during World War II.
