Discover Saliceto: historic buildings, frescoes and trails

Saliceto is one of the 24 municipalities of Bormida Gotica, a cultural route along the Bormida River. The town combines medieval and Renaissance buildings with frescoes, the traditional Festa di San Lorenzo and landscapes that you can explore on foot or by mountain bike. This makes Saliceto ideal for a trip in which culture and nature are closely connected.

Castles, churches and frescoes

The Castello dei Marchesi del Carretto is a trapezoidal building with three corner towers. It was built in the 12th or 13th century as a military fortress along the historic Via del Sale and is now presented as a solid residential complex. The Castello del Carretto was converted into a courtly residence at the end of the 16th century. It includes important painted halls and a medieval-style inner courtyard. After being renovated, it was reopened to the public; visitors can see halls decorated with 16th-century frescoes.

Saliceto's main square is home to the Chiesa parrocchiale di San Lorenzo, located directly beside the castle. It is one of the few Renaissance buildings in Piedmont. The interior is completely decorated with frescoes. The construction is also striking: the church is built entirely of dressed sandstone and divided into three sections, each with its own entrance.

In the hamlet of Lignera, a village belonging to Saliceto, stands the medieval Cappella di San Martino. Its presbytery walls and apse feature frescoes. The bell tower is square, built entirely of stone and designed in the Romanesque style. Four levels with blind corbel arches structure the tower. Lignera therefore offers a separate architectural destination away from the main square.

The old church of Sant'Agostino preserves a small chapel whose two sides and vault are decorated with frescoes. The Oratorio di Sant'Agostino also preserves pictorial evidence of the presence of the Disciplinanti Bianchi since at least the late 15th century. The frescoes include scenes from the hagiography of San Bernardino da Siena. In the sacellum of the Castello dei Del Carretto, a fresco cycle created at the end of the 14th century and influenced by Tuscany has also been preserved.

Nature between Belbo and the Langhe

The Santuario della Madonna della Neve was built in 1580 at an altitude of approximately 600 metres. Its bell tower depicts the Triregnum, considered a very rare example in the Langhe. The wooded hills of the Riserva naturale Sorgenti del Belbo provide a contrasting landscape. The protected area lies between Montezemolo, Camerana and Saliceto; this is where the Belbo stream rises. The wetlands are home to 22 orchid species.

For active days, the Riserva naturale Sorgenti del Belbo offers a dense network of small roads and trails suitable for mountain biking. Another option is the Grande Traversata delle Langhe: on the Saliceto–Cortemilia section, it follows the route of the Sentiero della Valle Bormida and replaces its signage. The Grande Traversata delle Langhe connects Saliceto with Santo Stefano Belbo, is suitable for hiking and mountain biking, and has a total length of almost 60 kilometres.

Sightseeing and festival traditions

Visits to the Castello dei Marchesi del Carretto are organised by the Castrum Saliceti association from the beginning of July to the end of October. The association also offers guided tours of Saliceto's historic village exclusively by prior reservation.

The traditional Festa di San Lorenzo is organised in Saliceto every year. At the Parco del Castello dei Marchesi del Carretto, the festival includes gastronomic offerings as well as music, performances and entertainment. Another place of remembrance is the complesso monumentale del Mu. It commemorates those from Mu and Saliceto who died in Russia during the Second World War.

Getting there and finding your way around

Saliceto railway station is located in the San Michele district. By road, Saliceto can be reached via Ceva, 21 kilometres away, along the Dogliani–Montezemolo state road. Another connection leads via Millesimo, 10 kilometres away, along the Valle Bormida Millesimo–Cortemilia state road. These two documented access routes, together with the railway station, provide different starting points for planning your trip.

More destinations

Ormea, Lesegno, San Michele di Mondovì, Pamparato, Vernante, Torresina, San Chiaffredo and Roccaforte Mondovì

For the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.