a town of the Sardinian kingdom, capital of a province, in the division and 14 miles E.S.E. of Alessandria, on a hill near the right bank of the Scrivia. It is an old town, ill built, with narrow, irregular streets, and was formerly a place of strength, but its fortifications were all destroyed by the French after Marengo, so that only a few vestiges of them now remain. Here are a fine cathedral, several other churches, two convents, a college, several schools, a theatre, barracks, and hospital. Silk and other articles are made here, and there is some trade in corn and wine. Pop. of the commune, 10,821.