On display at the Louvre Museum in Paris is Refrancore’s most famous archaeological find, dating back to 1874. It is a stunning sea-green blown-glass cup, exquisitely decorated with ivy vines and inscribed in Greek, dating from the 1st century AD. This find firmly establishes the village’s ancient origins, confirming its long-standing existence.

According to tradition, following a fierce battle in 663 between the Lombards and the Franks, the river—now called the Gamella—ran red with the blood of the fallen, earning the name Rivas Francorum, or “the river of the Franks.”

This seems to be the widely accepted, if dramatic, explanation for the village’s name. Refrancore lies in the Lower Monferrato, about 13 km from Asti. Its documented history begins in 1197, and from then on, political upheavals, wars, noble families, and marquises shaped the village without pause.
An ancient manuscript from 1355, the Codex Astensis, shows Refrancore on an old map with a castle, defensive walls, and a small settlement clustered around the medieval Ricetto. The area is rich in historical events too numerous to summarize here. What remains certain is that traces of the “castro, loco e villa”—the castle, the village, and the town—are still visible today, along with other remnants, such as the old houses forming three sides of a quadrangle that once served as fortifications.
At the highest point, overlooking the village that hugs its slopes, stands the old parish church dedicated to Saint Martin. The current structure dates to 1660 but was built atop a 16th-century church dedicated to the same saint. Currently closed to the public, it awaits restoration work. Walking through Refrancore, it is a pleasure to explore and discover, among ancient and modern houses alike, the signs of history and the evolution of architecture and urban planning.

Finally, it is worth noting that in the heart of the village there is a pastry shop producing the renowned “Finocchini” biscuits, a traditional recipe with a long history and notable qualities. According to the town’s official website, “Dr. Alessandro Colli, the village’s former general practitioner, wanted to patent them as a medicinal product, to be sold to patients for their lightness, crumbly texture, and high nutritional value.”