Discover Roata: Churches, Pilgrimage Trails and Forest Landscape

Roata combines medieval architectural heritage, pilgrimage history, forest and a distinctive bread tradition. For a trip to Italy focused on religious art, historic routes and landscapes, the local area offers several different perspectives.

Forest and the Tanaro

In the municipality of Niella Tanaro, 759 hectares are covered by forest. The Tanaro River forms the northeastern boundary of the municipality. This gives your planning a clear landscape theme: forest and river complement the chapels, frescoes and historic architectural heritage, offering a second perspective on the municipality.

Medieval Traces and Frescoes

The medieval castle of Niella Tanaro contains preserved remains from the 11th century, including a square tower. The Confraternita dei Disciplinanti S. Antonio Abate is also medieval, a religious building with frescoes from the 15th and 16th centuries. Both examples give the local history considerable historical depth.

Chapels from Different Periods

The Cappella di Sant’Anna contains frescoes from 1478 depicting the miracle of the hanged man, a legend of Saint James the Elder. The present building and its façade date from the 18th century. The Cappella di S.Rocco di Niella contains preserved fragments of 16th-century frescoes depicting the Annunciation, the Madonna and Child, and saints. The present chapel in Roà Sottana developed from a votive pillar; a foundation stone dated 1700 commemorates this.

Pilgrimage Trails and Church Circuit

The Cappella di S.Rocco di Niella is located along a route used by medieval pilgrims travelling to Santiago de Compostela. The Cappella di Sant’Anna is connected to a pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela that ran through the Niella area along the Tanaro and in the footsteps of a Roman road. The church circuit of Niella Tanaro includes the Cappella di San Bernardo at the junction with Via Poggio. The Cappella della Natività della Vergine is the final church on the circuit and is located in the village of Roà Soprana.

Navigating the Landandè Trail

The Niella Tanaro petal of the Sentiero Landandè can begin in S. Grato di Vicoforte, S. Teobaldo di Niella or at the parish church of Niella. The Landandè trail map is available online and can be printed. This allows you to prepare your navigation before a tour and compare the various possible starting points.

Bread Tradition and an Unusual Record

A bread-baking tradition developed in Niella Tanaro after many residents emigrated to the southern French coast, particularly Nice, where they worked as bakers. On 3 August 1980, Niella Tanaro set the Guinness World Record for the longest filled sandwich with a 304.12-metre-long filled sandwich. This gives the local food culture an unusually concrete history alongside its historical dimension.

More Destinations for Trip Planning

Valdieri, Farigliano, Santa Margherita, Vicoforte, Mondovì, Piazza, Pontechianale, Roccaforte Mondovì

To the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.