Druento: Nature, Churches and Historic Sites

If you would like to combine nature and history in Druento, you will encounter a variety of sites, each with its own distinct character. The historic town centre lies on the hill where the Chiesa di San Michele and the remains of the old castle stand; the hill is surrounded by the Rio Fellone.

La Mandria natural area

Parco Naturale La Mandria preserves the most significant remaining section of lowland forest in northern Italy. Its habitats make it a European Special Area of Conservation. The fenced-off area is freely accessible at no cost during opening hours. One specific entrance is Cancello di Druento on Via Medici del Vascello–Ponte sul Ceronda; free parking is available there.

Guided tours of the nature park are offered on foot, by bicycle, on horseback or by carriage. The various forms of tour range from walking and cycling to horse riding and carriage rides. The circular route Percorso A tutta la Mandria leads to Cascina Rubbianetta, home to the Centro Internazionale del Cavallo.

Villas and historic buildings

Villa dei Laghi is located in the municipality of Druento, at Rotta Bottion on a peninsula in the centre of Lago Grande. It was built between 1863 and 1868 at the request of King Vittorio Emanuele II as a hunting lodge in medieval and Neo-Renaissance styles. Its garden includes English lawns and landscaped woodland areas and was designed by landscape architect Pietro Porcinai.

Cascina Vittoria was completed between 1860 and 1863 and was among the first construction projects commissioned by Vittorio Emanuele II. It is a breeding centre for the Cavallo Agricolo Italiano – TPR. This native Italian draught horse breed is considered the only one of its kind in Italy.

Chiesa di San Giuliano was built in the 12th century and was associated with the property of the Benedictine abbey of San Giacomo di Stura. The church contains a well-preserved and recently restored fresco cycle dating from 1493. It is normally closed to the public; it opens following the reservation of a guided tour and during the Festa di San Giuliano on the last Sunday in August.

Chiesa di Santa Maria della Stella was built in 1295 as a new and larger church outside the settlement. It was demolished in 1674 and subsequently rebuilt in an enlarged form, with three naves, an apse and seven altars. It also contains a fresco of the Madonna delle Grazie with the infant Jesus, dated to 1494.

Chiesa di San Sebastiano dates from the second half of the 16th century and has a central nave and two side aisles. Its furnishings include a wooden statue of San Sebastiano carved around 1765 in the Piedmontese Baroque style. Cappella di San Rocco is usually closed and opens on the occasion of the Festa di Borgo San Rocco.

During the Festa di San Giuliano, an attempt is made to recreate the atmosphere of past centuries in the still well-preserved Ricetto di San Giuliano. Together with the historic town centre, the churches, Villa dei Laghi and the La Mandria grounds, Druento reveals various facets shaped by landscape, sacred art and regional history.

More destinations

For further planning of your trip to Italy, you may also consider Ceres, Val Della Torre, Cantalupa, Venaria Reale, Lombardore, Villar Focchiardo, Front and Fenestrelle.

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