Candelo: Ricetto, Church Art and the Baraggia

Candelo offers several specific points of interest to help you plan your trip: the fortified Ricetto di Candelo, historic churches, and the Baraggia landscape. Its attractions range from medieval history and works of art spanning several centuries to walking paths beneath old oak trees. This makes it possible to explore the town according to your own interests, without reducing its culture and landscape to a single theme.

The Ricetto and its history

The Ricetto di Candelo was built between the 13th and 14th centuries at the initiative of the local population. The fortified complex was intended to protect and preserve the community’s most valuable goods, especially wine and grain. This original purpose links its architectural history with agriculture and local wine culture. At the end of the 15th century, the Palazzo del Principe in the Ricetto was the residence of Sebastiano Ferrero, the feudal lord of Candelo.

The restored battlements are another defining historic feature of the complex and can once again be walked along. A multimedia visitor route includes previously closed areas as well as rooms updated with modern multimedia technology. The Ecomuseo of Candelo is designed as an integrated museum system: it documents the culture and landscape expressed in the Ricetto. This includes a reconstructed wine cellar, where historic winemaking equipment and methods are on display.

Further insights are offered by the Ecomuseo’s themed tours, which explore Candelo’s historical, natural and religious heritage. The Eco-Vigneto complements this perspective as a laboratory bringing together science and history, reviving the town’s ancient wine-growing culture. The various offerings therefore focus on different aspects, from the goods safeguarded in the medieval Ricetto to the interpretation of winegrowing and the landscape.

Churches and works of art

Santa Maria Maggiore dates back to before the year 1000; the church was first documented in 1182. Inside, it preserves a panel depicting the Crucifixion of Christ, painted in 1572 by Boniforte Oldoni of Vercelli. There are also vault frescoes depicting the Church Fathers, dating from the 15th to 16th centuries and attributed to Gaspare de Fornerio da Ponderano. Santa Maria Maggiore is just a few minutes’ walk from the Ricetto, making it easy to combine the two historic sites.

The Chiesa di San Lorenzo took on its present form between 1675 and 1696, replacing an older, dilapidated building. It also preserves 18th-century sculptures by brothers Carlo Francesco and Pietro Giuseppe Aureggio. The large sacristy of the Chiesa di San Pietro contains furnishings, paintings and wooden sculptures from the 17th and 18th centuries. The De Bosis votive paintings were counted among the national monuments as early as the beginning of the 20th century because of their historical and artistic value; today, they are a cultural and interpretive feature of Candelo’s area-wide Ecomuseo.

Baraggia, trails and views

The municipal area includes a large part of the extensive Baraggia. To protect and preserve this distinctive environment, the Piedmont Region established the Riserva Naturale Orientata delle Baragge under Regional Law No. 3 of 14 January 1992. Its aims also include promoting agriculture and ensuring appropriate use of the area. In Candelo’s Baraggione, numerous paths shaded by centuries-old oak trees are well suited to walking.

The Altopiano di Bellavista offers a different perspective on the landscape: from there, the view extends across almost the entire western Alpine arc, from Monviso and Monte Rosa to the Bergamasque Prealps. Stage 9 of the Grande Traversata del Biellese also passes through the Baraggia di Candelo, then crosses a wooded area and continues towards the road to Candelo. The Pro Loco of Candelo offers guided nature tours in the Baraggia park. The paths in the Baraggione, the distant views from Bellavista and the guided tours each offer a different experience; specific route information can help you choose.

Events and practical information

The Ricetto di Candelo hosts annual events such as “Candelo in fiore” and “Il Borgo di Babbo Natale.” As these events take place on specific dates, it is a good idea to check the dates for your travel period. The Slow Food Mercato della terra offers another connection to regional food culture. Products on offer include beer, Toma and Maccagno cheeses, fresh fruit and vegetables, preserves, honey, hazelnuts, cured meats, grappa and flour.

The tourist office is located at the entrance to the medieval Borgo, next to the monumental Torre Porta. Visitors can get free information there about food, accommodation, events and services. If you are planning a hotel stay in Candelo, you can include this information point in your trip planning. Alongside information on the town’s historic and natural attractions, practical details are also available.

Discover more destinations: Lessona, Mongrando, Vigliano Biellese, Romagnano, Bellaria, Bioglio, Simone, Graziano-Ruta

For the regional travel overview: Biella.