Lawyer, Intendant, Playwright

Alberto Nota was born in Turin, 15 November 1775 where he died on 17 April 1847.

He was a very well known doctor in law, not only for his great culture, but also for being the author of numerous Goldonian style comedies, successfully represented in various Italian theatres.

Of liberal ideas, in 1817 he was appointed secretary to the Prince of Carignano Carlo Alberto. Following an unpleasant sentimental incident with a princess's maid, he was dismissed and sent to Nizza Monferrato as under steward, and finally in 1823 he arrived in Sanremo to perform his duties first as steward and then as steward of the Province (then) of Sanremo.

He immediately reorganised the provincial road system, opening up numerous arteries towards the hinterland. On the occasion of his visit to Nice to pay homage to Carlo Felice, he met Queen Maria Cristina, who hated sea journeys and often wanted to go to Genoa, so she asked him to complete the Via della Cornice, which had started during the Napoleonic period and was not yet completed.
The Note completed it in 1827.

Bound by a deep friendship with the doctor Siro Andrea Carli, he worked to make him mayor, and during his administration together they built the aqueduct of Lake Nero to bring water to the city and opened the four new fountains.

He was also the coordinator of the relief to the population on the occasion of the serious earthquake of 26th May 1831 and based on this experience he wrote a report published in 1832 "About the earthquake that occurred in the City of Sanremo in the year 1831".

He also managed to alleviate the suffering of the earthquake victims by donating money that Carlo Alberto, who had previously become King of Sardinia, had wanted to donate to Sanremo, taking it from his personal coffers.
Later King Carlo Felice recalled him to Piedmont where he obtained the rank of Intendant General of the Cuneo Division.
Before his departure, the City Council of Sanremo unanimously proclaimed him a "Citizen of Sanremo" in its meeting of 31 October 1831.

On 28th November 1870, by resolution of the Town Council itself, the square that still bears his name was dedicated to him: before it was called Piazza Palazzo, but it was commonly called Piazza degli Sbirri (Cops' Square), because on the ground floor of the Palazzo del Commissario was the body of the guards, who were called the cops.

Very intense was his activity of plays collected in the publication "Teatro Comico di Alberto Nota" published in eight volumes in 1842 and dedicated to Carlo Alberto.

(source : Marco Mauro)