Strambinello – Castello, Chiusella and Alta Via

Strambinello between the river landscape and the moraine slope

Strambinello lies on the western edge of the Pedanea. The old road through the town runs along the gently sloping side of a moraine flank. For your travel planning, this makes it an interesting place where landscape and history can be experienced through specific paths, bridges and structures. At the western fork in the road, one turn leads down to the Chiusella; another climbs toward the Gusse waterfall. A third turn leads to the entrance of the Valle di Chj.

Geology is also part of the character of the surrounding area. Near Strambinello, the Chiusella exposes the fossilized remains of marine mollusks from the Tertiary period in Pliocene sedimentary layers. The layers are two to five meters thick. Anyone interested in how landscapes are formed will find an unusual connection here between the river environment, geological history and the present-day appearance of the town.

Castle history and historic buildings

Castello di Strambinello was built as a strategic outpost and oriented toward the other castles of the Pedanea, including Parella, Loranzè and Pramonico. The complex thus provides a direct way to explore the region's castle landscape. The upper bridge, Ponte dei Preti, is a further example of historic engineering and construction: it was built in 1788 based on a design by the architect Michelangelo Pelazza.

Ponte dei Preti is also connected to the Alta Via dell'Anfiteatro Morenico di Ivrea. The route crosses the bridge to Strambinello and then follows Via Alleu. Near a medieval tower, it turns onto Via Selva. The bridge can be crossed by car or on foot; access by car is restricted to vehicles weighing no more than 8 tons.

Practical orientation on site

Castello di Strambinello can be reached via S.S. 565 di Castellamonte, and access by car is permitted. As it is a private property, contacting the owners by telephone is recommended. The Chiesa Parrocchiale di Sant'Ilario Vescovo can be reached by road; a staircase leads down from the parking area. These different access conditions should be taken into account when planning individual visits.

When choosing your accommodation, you can decide what to focus on during your days: the Castello, Ponte dei Preti and the connection to the castles of the Pedanea appeal to those interested in cultural history, while the Chiusella, Gusse waterfall, Valle di Chj and the Alta Via offer further connections with the landscape. This allows you to make a conscious decision when choosing where to stay, based on whether cultural history or exploring the landscape should be the deciding factor.

Further places for your travel planning

Volpiano, Loranzè, Venaria Reale, Rivalta Di Torino, Bruino, Andezeno, Moncenisio, Meana di Susa

For the main travel overview: Turin.