Discover Cavallermaggiore: Churches, Garden Culture and Paths along the Maira

Cavallermaggiore between Sacred Buildings and Garden Culture

Cavallermaggiore combines a remarkable succession of religious buildings with garden culture, walking paths along the Maira and regional cuisine. The Chiesa di San Pietro is the oldest church in Cavallermaggiore and therefore provides a particularly early reference point for the town’s history.

In the Giardino del Priorato, one area follows a concept inspired by the medieval “garden of simples.” Plants grown for practical purposes flourish there. Four further areas recreate a dye garden, presenting plants that were formerly used to dye textiles, especially silk. The garden thus illustrates how closely knowledge of plants and everyday crafts were once connected.

Churches, Domes and Historic Buildings

The Chiesa di San Bernardino o Santa Croce – Confraternita dei Battuti Bianchi was built between 1734 and 1743 based on a design by the architect Francesco Gallo. Its elliptical dome features perspective paintings by the Pozzi brothers. Here, architecture and decoration are directly interconnected, giving the sacred building a clearly recognisable design character.

The Santuario della Beata Vergine delle Grazie was founded in the 15th century by monks of the Augustinian Order from the hermitage monastery. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Santuario Beata Vergine delle Grazie was rebuilt in the neoclassical style. Every year, from 20 August to 30 August, a novena and a procession are held there in memory of the Madonna delle Grazie.

The Torre Civica also tells of several construction phases. Its construction began in 1564 based on a design by Battista Filippi and was completed in 1581. The Torre Civica is 28.60 metres high. During its restoration in 2000, old decorations by W. L. Salis were uncovered.

The Church of the Brotherhood of San Rocco was built from 1681 onwards according to plans by Giovenale Boetto. Palazzo Garneri complements the architectural ensemble with a Renaissance building from the mid-16th century. Round arches, columns and capitals define its design.

On the Maira on Foot or by Bicycle

Near Lago Mairetta, a path along the river follows the banks of the Maira in sections and enables walks close to the river. The route from Cavallermaggiore to Cavallerleone is 4 km long. On foot, it takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes; by bicycle, approximately 25 minutes. The different time estimates help you choose a suitable mode of transport for planning your day.

Near the bridge in the direction of Monasterolo di Savigliano, an equipped rest and picnic area is available along the riverside path. This allows you to add a planned break to your time on the Maira without losing sight of the themes of architecture and local history.

Experience a Local Speciality

At the Fiera del Gorgonzola in Cavallermaggiore, Blu Arena offers tastings and workshops on blue cheese and Gorgonzola DOP. The event complements the cultural sights with a culinary approach to local identity.

When choosing your hotel in Cavallermaggiore, you can therefore focus on different aspects: historic churches and buildings, the garden areas of the Giardino del Priorato, paths along the Maira, or exploring cheese and regional food culture. This means that your accommodation choice can reflect how you would like to discover Cavallermaggiore.

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For the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.