Torresina: Hills, History and Trails of the Alta Langa

Torresina Among Hills and History

Torresina lies amid the hills of the Alta Langa, on the crest of a hilltop.

Roman Traces and Sacred Buildings

The Roman stele is considered the oldest surviving evidence of human presence in the Torresina area. It was restored by the Museo di Antichità di Torino and examined by the Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici del Piemonte and Professor Giovanni Mennella of the University of Genoa. A stele of Roman origin was found at the Cappella dell’Assunta in 1999.

The Cappella Santa Croce was built in 1844 out of gratitude for the end of a long famine. The Parrocchia di San Giorgio is the parish church of Torresina, dedicated to Saint George, and dates from the 16th century. Its façade is made of Langa stone and features two orders of pilasters, a three-part Serliana window and a triangular pediment.

Trails Through Forests, Valleys and Heights

The Sentiero Storia begins at the Pietra dell’Appuntamento on the SP352 in the municipality of Torresina and is marked with blue trail signs. The Sentiero Cusina follows the Cusina stream valley through wooded areas and offers views of the Alps. Along the trail are marl formations typical of the Alta Langa and distinctive badlands.

The Sentiero Cultura is a circular trail approximately 9.290 kilometres long. It begins at the Pietra dell’Appuntamento in Torresina and takes about three hours on foot. Along the way, it passes the site where Piedmontese troops took cover during the battle of 16 April 1796; traces of the trenches are still preserved there. In spring, rare protected wild orchids can be seen along the Sentiero Cultura.

The Deserta Langarum route between Igliano and Torresina also leads through a variety of landscapes. It runs over the heights on both sides of the Cusina Valley and continues down to the streambed. Along this route, visitors can observe deer, foxes, wild boar, badgers, squirrels and numerous bird species. The Fontana Canaretta is an old village water reservoir in a natural tuff cavern; the water displays green-blue reflections of light.

History in the Municipality and the Wider Surrounding Area

The municipality of Torresina was the scene of a bloody battle on 16 April 1796 between Piedmontese troops and the French army under General Napoleon, which sought to capture the Colle della Pedaggera. “Appuntamento nei Boschi” refers to a five-day open-air event held between the last Sunday in July and the first Sunday in August.

In the immediate vicinity of Torresina is the Museo Della Ceramica Di Mondovi', a museum. The Castello di Roccavignale, listed as a ruin, is also nearby. In the wider region are Palazzo Fauzone, a palace; Castello di Murialdo, a complex listed as a ruin; and the mountains Bric Mindino, Monte Settepani and Monte Burotto. The Giardini del Belvedere are classified there as a garden.

When choosing a hotel or other accommodation in Torresina, you can tailor your plans to the area's different highlights: Roman and ecclesiastical history, the trails around Cusina or the broader destinations in the surrounding region.

Further destinations: Valpone, Ceresole Alba, Scarnafigi, Brondello, Sanfront, Castellino Tanaro, Frabosa Sottana, Pocapaglia.

To the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.