Discover Caraglio: Silk History, Churches and Garlic Culture

Caraglio between Silk History and Local Culture

Caraglio combines a medieval historic centre with the history of silk processing and a regional garlic culture. The Filatoio di Caraglio is the oldest preserved silk mill in Europe. In the historic centre, the buildings feature Romanesque and Gothic structures and elements. Industrial history, medieval architecture and regional everyday culture therefore come together in a multifaceted townscape.

Churches and Frescoes from Several Periods

The parish church of Caraglio dates from 1779 and contains a baptismal font created by the Zabreri brothers in 1490. The Church of San Giovanni in Caraglio has a Gothic ground plan. It also contains a cycle of frescoes by the Biazaci brothers from the second half of the 15th century. The different dates make the religious buildings and works of art fascinating points of interest for anyone who wants to view architecture as more than just an external impression.

The Cappella della Madonna del Castello

The Cappella della Madonna del Castello contains frescoes from the early 15th century depicting scenes from the life of the Madonna. The chapel is about ten minutes from the town. Access leads uphill along Via Santuario del Castello, where a longer section of the town walls runs. The route and the frescoes thus combine specific local orientation with another historic setting.

Aglio di Caraglio and the Town's Festivals

Caraglio also has a clearly recognisable local theme in culinary terms. The production area of Aglio di Caraglio coincides with the municipal area of Caraglio. Garlic is a basic ingredient of bagna caoda, a warm sauce made from garlic, olive oil and salted anchovies. You therefore encounter the local speciality both as a product of the municipality and as an ingredient in a regional dish.

Several events take up this garlic culture. The Aj a Caraj garlic festival has been documented since 2003 and takes place in November. The Festival of New Garlic has been documented since 2009 and takes place at the beginning of summer. The Fiera d'Autunno in Caraglio showcases local foods, especially the typical Aglio di Caraglio, and takes place on the last weekend of September. The three dates therefore fall in different parts of the year and each offer a distinct opportunity to discover local products.

Paths through the Valley and Activities

The 92-kilometre Curnis Auta route runs from Caraglio to Castelmagno through the entire valley, following both its left and right slopes. A historic stage route in the Cuneo area begins at the Filatoio di Caraglio. It is preferably travelled on foot; some sections are also suitable for mountain bikes and e-bikes. The documented range of routes therefore extends from a long connection through the valley to a stage route offering options for different means of transport.

For families with younger children, the adventure park at Bioparco Acquaviva offers huge inflatable play equipment. The adventure park also includes courses between the trees with a zip line and a Tibetan suspension bridge. Caraglio thus combines historic sightseeing, regional foods, longer routes and active experiences for younger visitors.

Discover More Destinations

For further travel planning, you can also find Macra, Argentera, Dogliani, Valdivilla, Cherasco, Alba, Gorzegno and Prunetto here.

For the overview of the wider region: Cuneo.