P30
The territory of Alba
Positioned on the right bank of the river Tanaro, Alba Pompeia played an important role as port in
the trades in Northern Italy and as point of transit with the coast. Its territory shares land borders
with Hasta to the north, with Pollentia (Pollenzo) to the northwest, with Acquae Statiellae (Acqui
Terme) to the northeast, with Vada Sabatia (Vado Ligure) to the south and with Augusta
Bagiennorum (Bene Vagienna) to the west. Its area covered 943 km2 and it included the plain of the
middle path of the river Tanaro to north, the Langhe hills to south up to the Ligurian Alps.
The road network that crossed the territory included the route that ran from Augusta Taurinorum
(Torino) to Placentia (Piacenza), connecting cities as Pollenzo, Alba, Acqui Terme and Tortona.
Two routes assured the access to the Liguarian coast: the first crossed the Tanaro Valley from
Pollenzo, the second one crossed the Langhe and inserted on the Via Aemilia Scauri.
1) Limits of the territory of Alba Pompeia
2) Map of the urban settlements and of the road system in Northern Italy during the Imperial
Age