ALESSANDRIA, ii'les-sibedre-A. The capital of the Italian province of the same name (1950 square miles; pop., 1900, 812.022), and a strong fortress, situated in a marshy region on the Tanaro, 47 miles from Genoa by rail (Map: Italy. C 3). Its chief ecclesiastical buildings are the cathedral, built in the beginning of the nine teenth century, and the old Church of Santa Maria di Castello. There are a royal palace, an old castle, and extensive barracks. Noteworthy is the :leadenly of Sciences and Arts, founded in 1562. A lessandria has cotton, woolen, and linen mills, hat factories, ete. The city derives con siderable commercial importance from its position on the chief railway lines of Eastern Italy. Pop ulation of commune, 1881, 02,404; 1901, 71,21)3.
Alessandria was founded in 1168 by the inhabi tants of Cremona, Milan, and Placentia. as a bul wark against Frederick Barbarossa, and was named Alessandria in honor of Pope Alexander Ill. Frederick tried to capture it, but failed. As it was a fortress to guard the passage of the Bormida and Talmo, and also the central point of communication between Genoa, Milan, and Turin, the town was often a scene of battle. It was taken and plundered in 1522 by Duke Sforza; besieged, but without success, by the French, un der the Prince of Conti. in 1657; and taken, in
spite of obstinate resistance, by Prince Eugene, in 1707. After the prostration of Austria at the battle of Marengo, in 4300, Bonaparte concluded an armistice at Alessandria, in accordance with which upper Italy, as far as the Mineio, was ceded to the French, with twelve fortresses. It was the principal armory of the Piedmontese during the insurrection of Lombardy and Venetia in 1843.49, when many new fortifications were added.
ALESSI, :1-1Wiie, GALEAZZO ( 1512-72 ) . An Italian architect of the late Renaissance, born in Perugia. Be was associated with Michelan gelo at Rome in 1530, but followed more the manner of Vignola, and never reached the fore most rank. Aside from a few works at Perugia, his masterpieces are at Genoa, whose fatuous palace architecture he helped develop, especially in the Cambiaso, Spinola, and Serra palaces. Of his Genoese villas, the most beautiful is the Palma vicini. His influence was felt throughout Italy, and in France and Portugal, and especially Fianders.