The AlessandriaPiacenza railway first connected Alessandria, first founded in 1168, and Casteggio and eventually connected to Rome.
The first section, between Alessandria and Casteggio was opened on 25 January 1858. Alessandria was founded in 1168 with a charter as a free comune; it was sited upon a preexisting urban nucleus, to serve as a stronghold for the Lombard League, defending the traditional liberties of the communes of northern Italy against the Imperial forces of Frederick Barbarossa. 
