Ceva between Fortress, Arcades and Baroque

Ceva is a destination for travelers who want to explore Italian history through preserved buildings, art and cultural events. Highlights include Il Forte di Ceva with its underground passage and outdoor trail, medieval towers and arcades, Baroque religious buildings, the Teatro Carlo Marenco, the Museo del Fungo and a botanical garden. Ceva is well connected by train and motorway. Before choosing your hotel, you can therefore consider whether your main interests are architecture, history, literature, mushrooms or events.

Fortress and Medieval Center

Il Forte di Ceva includes an underground passage carved into the rock, with chapels featuring 17th-century frescoes. The fort also includes an outdoor trail along the old patrol path and the bastions, with green paths and viewpoints. The Campanone is a city tower built in the Middle Ages and repurposed over the centuries, as well as the only surviving tower of Ceva’s former city walls. I Portici are medieval arcades in Ceva’s historic center. The arcades of Via Marenco have been a setting for commerce and social life for almost eight centuries. The Torre Porta Tanaro is the only medieval gate tower in Ceva that is still fully preserved.

Baroque Art and Urban History

The site of the Palazzi Pallavicino dates back to the 11th century; in the early years of the 12th century, the Aleramici family founded the Castrum Cevae there. The complex comprises the Palazzo Rosso and the Palazzo Bianco. The Chiesa dell'Arciconfraternita di Santa Maria e Santa Caterina is a significant example of Piedmontese Baroque and was completed in 1735 according to the plans and under the direction of architect Francesco Gallo. The Duomo displays features of the late Baroque; in 1864, Andrea Vinaj created the cycle of paintings on the vault. The Chiesa di San Carlo contains sophisticated frescoes by Giovanni Arigone from the early 1630s.

Theater, Museum and Garden

The Teatro Carlo Marenco was inaugurated in 1860 based on a design by engineer Giovanni Levi. It offers theater, music and dance, as well as school projects and workshops. The theater was completely restored; restoration work in 2007 included restoring and revealing the painted ceiling.

The Museo del Fungo di Ceva explores the science and history of mushrooms through multimedia installations and a collection of rare specimens. It is located in the former Capuchin monastery; during a visit, you can also see the Chiostro delle Erbe and the botanical garden. The Giardino Botanico “Frate Francesco Maria Bono” is located on the same grounds that the Capuchin friars cultivated for four centuries. It hosts the summer literary series “Un Libro in Giardino” and welcomes authors of national and international standing. The Mostra del Fungo has been held every year on the third Sunday in September in Ceva since 1962.

Other Places to Include in Your Travel Plans

If you would like to complement your travel plans with additional destinations, you can also consider Gallo, Roddi, Viola, Castiglione Tinella, Cossano Belbo, Elva, Cissone and Roccabruna.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.