Castagnole Piemonte: Churches, Caritun and Paths Through Local History

Castagnole Piemonte combines sacred art, local cuisine, and various ways to explore the town actively or culturally. The Chiesa di San Rocco stands on the main square. There are also churches with medieval origins, a cultural tour dedicated to the works of Amedeo Lavy, the seasonal specialty Caritun, as well as cycling routes and events. If you are planning a trip to Italy and want to combine history, regional characteristics, and different activities, Castagnole Piemonte offers several specific starting points for doing so.

Churches and Art with a History of Their Own

The Chiesa di San Rocco is located on the main square of Castagnole Piemonte. Its construction began in 1634 as a result of a vow made by the inhabitants of Castagnole Piemonte to Saint Roch. The Baroque façade features trompe-l'œil columns and capitals. This makes a visit to the church particularly easy to combine with a walk around the main square, without viewing the architectural details merely as a decorative backdrop.

A much earlier historical layer is associated with the Chiesa di San Pietro. Its foundation can be traced back to around the year 1000; it is mentioned in a document from 1037 written by Landolfo, the bishop of Turin. Inside is a fresco of the Virgin and Child. It was probably painted by the Maestro di Cercenasco or by a pupil from his school and is dated to the late 15th or early 16th century. The cautious attribution and chronological classification make the fresco an independent art-historical detail of the town.

The Chiesa di San Bernardino also dates back to the 17th century. At that time, it was the seat of the Brotherhood of the Battuti Bianchi and has a typical 17th-century façade. Inside the church is the plaster statue of the Madonna created in 1829 by Amedeo Lavy. Anyone interested in regional art and the connection between buildings, religious history, and individual artists will find several different layers within one place here.

Amedeo Lavy and Cultural Discoveries

Castagnole Piemonte has a cultural tour dedicated to discovering the works of Amedeo Lavy. Before and after the Restoration, the artist worked as an engraver at the Savoy mint. His connection with the plaster statue of the Madonna in the Chiesa di San Bernardino gives the tour a specific point of reference. For your stay, this means that art can be explored here not only through a single work, but also as the theme of a dedicated cultural route.

The reading group “Profumo di Pagine” is also part of local cultural life. It meets on the second Friday of every month in the evening at the municipal library of Castagnole Piemonte; listeners are also welcome to attend free of charge. This regular offering is not intended exclusively for active readers, but explicitly opens the meetings to people who would like to listen.

Caritun: A Seasonal Specialty

One of Castagnole Piemonte’s distinctive culinary features is Caritun. It is a round, flat, focaccia-like sweet made with a yeast-dough base and strawberries arranged in a spiral. Caritun is highly seasonal and can only be prepared in autumn and the first part of winter. The specialty is therefore one of the topics for which the season plays a specific role in travel planning. Caritun has also received the municipal De.Co. designation from the municipalities of Piobesi Torinese and Castagnole Piemonte.

Cycling Routes, Evening Events and Activity

For cycling travelers, Castagnole Piemonte is connected to several different routes. The 109 km circular route “Le residenze sabaude” runs from Moncalieri (Le Vallere) via Santena, Abbazia di Casanova, Caramagna, Racconigi, Pancalieri, Castagnole Piemonte, Candiolo, and Stupinigi, returning to Moncalieri (Le Vallere). The route thus connects Castagnole Piemonte with a longer circuit through several towns and sights.

The Virle Piemonte MTB route passes along the edge of Castagnole Piemonte by the Sant’Antonio Abate chapel dedicated to Saint Anthony the Abbot. The chapel was probably built in the 17th century to protect the town from epidemics. The route also passes the entrance to the Castello dei Marchesi Romagnano. If you are weighing different route lengths and landscape impressions, the 109-kilometre circular route and the MTB route offer two clearly different options to consider.

During “Mangè an n’autra cort,” the centre of Castagnole Piemonte becomes an open-air gastronomic tour at night. In addition, Biodanza can be practised by everyone in Castagnole Piemonte; no previous dancing experience is required. The range therefore extends from regional food and an evening atmosphere to an open form of movement, while Caritun is particularly associated with autumn and the first part of winter.

Discover More Places

If you would like to compare Castagnole Piemonte with other places, you can continue planning your trip here: Roletto, Foglizzo, San Giorgio Canavese, Bobbio Pellice, Meana di Susa, Buttigliera Alta, Palazzo Canavese, Azeglio.

For the higher-level travel overview: Turin.