Villafranca Piemonte: Frescoes, the Po Landscape and Regional Traditions

Villafranca Piemonte can be explored through sacred art, historical traces and the landscape along the Po. For planning your trip, both individual sights and paths through nature, as well as regional traditions, take center stage.

Churches, Frescoes and Historical Testimonies

The Cappella di Missione is considered an important testimony to the area's early settlement and dates back to the Roman Christian period. The chapel contains a fresco cycle from around 1430, largely attributed to Aimone Duce.

The Church of the Beata Vergine delle Grazie, also known as the Church of the Former Monastery, was founded in 1702. The Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie has a façade featuring Rococo and Neoclassical elements.

Marchierù Castle is located in the hamlet of Soave in Villafranca Piemonte and is connected with the House of Savoy. It can be traced back to a document from 1220 concerning the donation of property to Santa Maria di Cavour Abbey.

The church in the San Giovanni district also dates back a long way: it was founded in 1200 and contains a fresco cycle from around 1540, largely attributed to the master Jacobino Longo.

Woodlands and the River Landscape

Along the Po lies a lowland woodland with a facilities area. In Madonna Orti, the Davide Bertrand Park is protected by the WWF. The site has a picnic area with tables, benches and waste bins.

The small woodland next to the Cappella di Missione site was cleared and restored to its original condition; numerous spring fountains were rediscovered in the process. A different type of landscape can be found in the 145-hectare Confluenza del Pellice Nature Reserve, located 1 km from Faule. There, the Pellice flows into the Po on its left bank.

The Po forms numerous meanders that slowly change through erosion and deposition. Remnants of coppice woodland have been preserved within them.

Cycling, Circular Routes and Water

The cycling routes run along flat, paved and mostly low-traffic side roads and are clearly signposted. The Ochette Trail is an almost 13 km circular route along the Po, with an official starting point at the Villafranca bridge. The Po in the lowlands can be navigated at any time of year.

Regional Specialties and Traditions

The Sagra dei Pescatori features river fish prepared according to traditional recipes. The event is part of the Settembre Villafranchese program; it also includes a fireworks display with music on the Po.

The Slow Food-protected Bianca di Saluzzo breed is kept exclusively outdoors in Villafranca Piemonte. The Giubileo del Cristo Risorto is a centuries-old tradition in Villafranca Piemonte that returns every 25 years. It includes a wood and papier-mâché sculpture attributed to Stefano Maria Clemente, which was blessed on March 22, 1742.

When choosing a hotel in Villafranca Piemonte, you can tailor your trip to your preferred focus: sacred art and historical testimonies offer a different experience from paths through woodland and countryside or exploring regional traditions.

More destinations for planning your trip

Find more travel destinations in Ciriè, Bardonecchia, Sauze Di Cesana, Pont Canavese, Cumiana, Palazzo Canavese, Ivrea and Cavour.

For the overview of higher-level destinations: Turin.