Bobbio (Bobbiese: Bòbi; Ligurian: Bêubbi; Latin: Bobium) is a small town and comune in the province of Piacenza in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy.

Its history is identified with the Abbey founded in 614 by St. Columbanus an Irish missionary, and as a result, it became one of the principal centres of religious culture in medieval Italy, home to a library and basilica.

Carla Glori in December 2011 has published her book Enigma Leonardo:decifrazioni e scoperte where the background of the portrait has been identified as the landscape of Bobbio.

This is the location of the ancient Virgin Penice Sanctuary with a view of the region; a few kilometres downhill, near Ceci, is a cross country ski run.

The territory around Bobbio is characterized by the Apennines, which influence the climate,[citation needed] contributing cool air in summer and protecting the town from cold winds and fog in winter.

[citation needed] On the surrounding mountains are find cultivated fields and pastures, and the woods are habitats for a number of critters (squirrel, dormouse, hedgehog, hare, badger, fox, wolf, wild boar, pheasant, partridge, and many birds) and where a great variety of trees and flowers grow (aromatic herbs, broom, beech, oak, pine, chestnut, spruce, larch).

Bobbio Abbey increased its possessions and became one of the principal seats of culture and religion of Northern Italy and a centre of learning during the Middle Ages, and was renowned for its Scriptorium and library.

On 7 July 1944, the partisan resistance in Italy conquered the town, formed the Republic of Bobbio and governed it autonomously until it was crushed by the Germans on 27 August, the same year.

Recent historical-artistic studies and confirmed scientific hypotheses have shown that the landscape that is the background to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is taken from Bobbio.

"Farecinema – meet the authors" is the brainchild of Maestro Marco Bellocchio who wanted to create in his hometown, Bobbio, a laboratory for teaching the art of film direction.

In parallel, the laboratory continues Farecinema that will become a film school and acting, and the town of Bobbio and has also become a movie set with the possibility of participation of extras also taken from the street.

From 2008 the local newspaper publisher and Pontegobbo piacentino Freedom indicate a literary competition open to young Italian and foreign writers of fiction and poetry.

Or experts will be recognized and awards for top entries there will be opportunities for public amenities, while those who are established as the winner will get free advertising and inclusion in all contexts of narrative.

The five historic districts of Bobbio are named after the many gateways to the medieval city existing in the 12th century: Alcarina, Fringuella, Agazza, Legleria and Nova.

Positioned in the heart of four provinces (Alessandria in Piedmont – Genoa, in Liguria – Pavia, in Lombardy – Piacenza, in Emilia-Romagna), Bobbio can boast a very old musical tradition, linked to the use of an instrument, the piffero (oboe popular double-reed), which accompanied by accordion, brings a vast repertoire of songs that marked the various stages of life of the community.

As part of the kitchen Piacenza, Bobbio occupies a prominent position could include a series of original local dishes and desserts that are passed down from many generations: The snails of Bobbio that from survival food have become a much sought-after course for the Christmas Eve or the celebrated maccheroni hand made pasta done with the aid of the knitting needle and served with a tasty beef stew sauce.

Bobbio is located at the foot of Ligurian Apennines, in the territory known as Colli Piacentini, near DOC for the production of typical wines such as Gutturnio, Trebbianino Trebbia Val, Barbera, Bonarda, Ortrugo, Malvasia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot (other: Riesling, Dolcetto, Muscat and Merlot).

Some art historians, including Carla Glori, have suggested that Bobbio and its three-arched Ponte Gobbo (which was destroyed in 1472) are the landscape in the background of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.

orange Flag) by Touring Club Italiano, as the high-medieval centre of tourist interest, which stands for excellence and hospitality, and it is also inserted into the World Tourism Organization.

Among the hundreds of events we can indicate the most followed: Addition, every Saturday morning on the main square, is held the traditional and ancient fair-market, with stalls and markets of various kinds with local produce and Agrobiologica.

From reports the efficiency of communications: in particular the main artery SS 45 Val Trebbia, in fact, it was partly renovated, but still stretches of road with a strong characterization of other times with the logical consequences, lend, so the utmost care when you are in travel it is advised caution and moderation in the rate since the stroke, especially among Rivergaro and Perino, very twisty corners with poor visibility and bumpy surface.