カステッラモンテの洞窟・トップ12

Beautiful old town with imposing buildings and views of the mountains.

Agliè, an enchanting village in the heart of Canavese, boasts a thousand-year history that has its roots in the Roman era. The original nucleus, probably located on the hills of the current hamlet of Santa Maria delle Grazie, was known as "Macunciacum" and depended on the Abbazia Fruttuaria di San Benigno. Agliè, as a fortified village, emerges in documents in 1141, when the feudal lords of Canavese divided the territory. The town became one of the lands of the San Martino di Rivarolo and Agliè, a family that would profoundly mark the history of the village. Despite the feudal struggles that raged in the region, Agliè maintained relative stability, even if it was not immune to looting and devastation. With the arrival of the Savoy, Agliè experienced a period of growth and development. In 1448, the village obtained municipal statutes, a sign of autonomy and recognition. The most emblematic figure of this period was Count Filippo San Martino di Agliè, a man of culture and prominent politician. Minister of Cristina of France, regent of the Duchy of Savoy, Filippo transformed the castle of Agliè into a sumptuous residence, enriching it with works of art and gardens. Today, Agliè is a village that preserves its historical and artistic charm intact. The Ducal Castle, with its gardens and richly decorated rooms, is an unmissable destination for visitors. The streets of the village, with their stone houses and noble palaces, tell the story of a place that has managed to preserve its identity over the centuries.

Passage made during Erratico Gravel

The Castello di Ivrea, also known as the “Castello dalle rosse torri” (Castle of the Red Towers), is an impressive medieval castle that towers over the town of Ivrea in the Piedmont region. The castle was built in 1358 by order of Amedeo VI of Savoy, also known as the Conte Verde. It served as a symbol of Savoyard rule over Ivrea and Canavese, mainly for defensive purposes. It stands on a hill overlooking the town and the road to the Valle d’Aosta. The castle has four imposing round towers that characterize its structure. These towers, each 34 meters high, are located next to the cathedral and the bishop’s palace. The castle walls were once surrounded by a wide moat, and the only access was via a drawbridge. From the battlements, defenders could throw stones and boiling water at attackers. Unfortunately, the interior of the castle was completely dismantled and altered when it served as a political and criminal prison from 1700 to 1970. Once a stronghold of power and defense, the castle was transformed by time and the changing needs of society.

Ivrea, the cradle of the Olivetti company and its famous typewriters, is located on the right bank of the Dora Baltea, west of the Serra di Ivrea, the largest moraine wall in Europe. The silhouette of a 14th century castle rises above the city. In the upper town there is also the originally Romanesque Duomo, which was renovated in the 19th century. On the other bank of the Dora, near Via Jervis, the old Olivetti factories have been converted into Musea dell'Architecture Moderna.

Pont Canavese is located like an enchanted village at the foot of the mountains, located between the Soana valley and the Orco valley. Its towers and stone houses clearly convey its medieval past. Right below this suggestive location stands the hermitage of Santa Maria in Doblazio, an ancient parish church that dates back to around the year one thousand, giving an aura of antiquity to the village.

So much history in just one castle. In the city of Ivrea the large Castle was once the residence of the Savoys, before becoming a military garrison. In addition to this, it was then transformed and used as a prison. The location is very strategic as is the very characteristic structure.

The castle of Rivara, an important seat of the Cenacle of painters of the Rivara school, is located 30 kilometers from Turin in the Canavese valleys. It is made up of three distinct buildings: the medieval castle, the neo-baroque villa and the stables, surrounded by a park of over 45,000 square metres. Inside, numerous ateliers and rooms regularly host Italian and foreign artists. The multifunctional exhibition space is 2,530 square meters, and the artistic direction was entrusted to Franz Paludetto from 1985 to 2023, the year of his death.