The village stretches along a long ridge, with its territory ranging in elevation from 150 to over 300 meters amid vineyards, forming two distinct urban clusters known locally as “Borg ad sera” and “Borg ad suta.”
Strevi is one of the few communes in which the population has grown over recent decades, rising from 1,600 residents in 1971 to around 1,950 today, marking a significant repopulation.
Of confirmed Roman origin, the first settlement likely developed around an important priestly college located near the “Emilia Scauri,” a major road connecting Tortona to Liguria. This college, called Septem-Viri, is believed to have given the village its name, although other, more imaginative theories exist. Written records begin in 991, showing that the village enjoyed a degree of political and administrative autonomy, eventually becoming a commune in 1259. This period likely coincided with the construction of the first fortifications and the movement of the population to the upper part of the hill, living within the walls under the governance of the castellan and three counselors.
In 1799, the people of Strevi fiercely resisted the French, putting them in serious difficulty, capturing Acqui, and marching on Alessandria before being defeated in a bloody battle.
The remaining fortifications date to the 15th century: two towers, a well-preserved bridge that provided access to the village from the south across a deep and wide moat, and a 17th-century entrance gate with its original archivolt.
The castle, heavily modified over the centuries, now houses the town hall. The cellars, the oldest part of the fortress, have been restored and now host a museum and wine shop. Also medieval are the base of a tower and the remains of other turrets. The monumental fireplace in the large council hall was created by the Valperga Counts, while the grand staircase leading to the upper floor is Renaissance in style.
The parish church, in its oldest section, dates back to the 1400s. Its apse, built atop the remains of a defensive tower, forms part of the village fortifications. Dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, the church was rebuilt and transformed in the 18th century in the Baroque style, with a façade blending Rococo and Neoclassical elements. The interior features decorations and paintings from the mid-19th century.
Downhill in the village stands the Grassi Counts’ villa, notable for a 1532 fresco that dates the building, which has over 750 square meters of living space and a beautiful garden; the villa is currently for sale.
Strevi boasts twelve products with Municipal Designation of Origin, a certification that protects the town’s traditional agro-food heritage. These include hand-stretched breadsticks, amaretti, hazelnut cakes, zabaglione baskets, and torrone, produced by the Arata family since 1831 using the original recipe unchanged.
Finally, the Moscato Passito wine from the Bagnario Valley is a DOC product with documented origins as far back as 1078. The production methods have remained the same for centuries: the best grape clusters are harvested and immediately dried on wooden racks in the farmhouse.
In November, they are pressed and allowed to ferment along with some of the skins for 6–8 months until reaching 14° alcohol. Before bottling, the wine rests for six months in small wooden barrels.
