Sommariva del Bosco between Roero, history and hiking trails

Sommariva del Bosco is also known as the “porta del Roero” and lies at the first foothills of the Roero, which open out towards the Cuneo plain.

Roero foothills and medieval traces

The Castello dei Seyssel d’Aix may date back to before the year 1000 and had certainly been built by 1098 at the latest. On the northern side of the former circular fortress with nine towers, three massive cylindrical towers from the 13th century and a large octagonal tower have been preserved.

Churches spanning several centuries

Several religious buildings also provide tangible points of reference in the town’s history. The Santuario della Beata Vergine di San Giovanni was built incorporating the semicircular apse of an earlier chapel. The Oratorio delle Umiliate, dedicated to Sant’Orsola and Santa Elisabetta d’Ungheria, was built in the mid-17th century. The Chiesa di San Sebastiano dates back to the early years of the 18th century. The Chiesa di Sant’Anna is also known as Chiesa del Convento and dates back to the first half of the 16th century.

The Sentiero di Fiaba in the historic centre

The Sentiero di Fiaba offers a distinctive way to explore the town. The circular route is located in the historic centre of Sommariva del Bosco and comprises 23 panels depicting the fairy tale “La Bella Addormentata nel Bosco”. The tour begins at Piazza Seyssel d’Aix. You can follow the entire circular route on foot by following blue arrows painted on the road surface. Those who complete the full loop follow these markings through the historic centre to the end of the route.

Hiking and cycling around Sommariva del Bosco

In addition to the fairy-tale-themed circular route, a network of 14 hiking trails was opened in Sommariva del Bosco in June 2023. It comprises five routes within the town and nine routes outside it, with a total length of 91 kilometres. The routes in the network start at Piazza Seyssel, except for routes 4, 5 and 6, which start at Parco del Bersaglio. One section of the Sentiero di Castelvirante runs along a paved road that can be used exclusively on foot or by bicycle. The total length of 91 kilometres refers to the entire network and not to a single loop. For an individual hike or cycle tour, the specific route is therefore the relevant basis for planning. The division into five routes within the town and nine routes outside it offers two different geographical options when choosing a route. The paved section of the Sentiero di Castelvirante also specifies a particular means of travel: it can be used exclusively on foot or by bicycle.

More places for travel planning: Sale San Giovanni, Cigliè, San Lorenzo, Frassino, Priocca, Belvedere Langhe Cn, Cissone and Spinetta.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.