If we were to go back in time and follow the polygonal layout of Alba’s city walls (dating from the period between the end of the II century b.C and the beginning of the Iast century of the Empire), we would notice that southwards the city walls ideally define the roman city at the centre of the San Martino hamlet; i.e. the Via Mazzini area. A mighty, fairly thick wall follows along a straight line, like the side of an octagon, and continues beyond Via Cuneo where it joins up with the stretch of road revealed by the archaeological excavations of 1974.

The southern Cardo Gate (very likely situated on the area of Via Vittorio Emanuele at the crossing with the present Via Mazzini), and that of San Martino (set slightly further down towards Piazza Savona, when the layout of the medieval walls incorporated new territories), may have witnessed some of the greatest events that have taken place in over 2000 years of history.

In particular, the Porta di San Martino (Saint Martin’s Gate) opened onto the Langhe and towards the sea. This was the place that more than any other saw the transit of goods to and from Liguria. It was perhaps the most natural link between the city and the road to Pollentia and, by consequence, had to endure both the good and the evil of every historic event in roman and medieval times.

The door took its name from an ancient church dedicated to San Martino which stood within the precincts of the medieval city, almost at the beginning of the present Via Maestra. The foundations of the eastern wall were discovered in 1930 during excavations for the construction of the buildings that now overlook the Piazza; the foundations rested on three of the pillars that supported the roman aqueduct at the entrance of the town.

The site, remembered as Piazza XX Settembre no longer exists. In September and October each year the area, lying outside the roman precinct and divided by the medieval walls, used to be the gathering point for hundreds of arbi (vats) full of the grapes that grew on the hills surrounding Alba.

During the year the piazza was also the venue of numerous fairs and was renowned for its market of willows and reeds used by winegrowers to tie the vines.

At that time cheap love was also sold in the Hamlet of San Martino. This was probably due to the presence of the soldiers garrisoned at the Castle and to the Langa folk who came to town on market days and during fairs. The brothel, remembered for its elegance and known as Casin cit (small brothel), operated in Vicolo del Pozzo, almost at the heart of the hamlet, in competition with another, less attractive one, called El gròs (the big one) on the Vicolo San Biagio.
According to the present organisers the coat of arms of the hamlet was probably chosen and assigned by the Municipal team when it was decided to reinstate the Palio.

Also in this case the metals and the silver and green tinctures do not follow the rules of heraldry, though the symbols are in keeping with the character of the hamlet: a silver shield dominated by an elm, a sword and three French fleur-de-lis.
The fleur-de-lis recall the Angevin domination in the 13th century, while the elm and the sword aim to suggest the strength and the fighting spirit of its dwellers.

Victories: 1973, 1992