Albiano D’ivrea – Ricetto, Churches and Hill Trails

In Albiano D’ivrea, the Percorso delle Meraviglie on the hills and a layered architectural and local history offer distinct areas of interest. The loop trail passes through the landscape and accommodates several ways of getting around; the castle, Ricetti and churches reveal historical and architectural details. When planning your trip, you can explore these highlights separately or combine them.

The Percorso delle Meraviglie

The Percorso delle Meraviglie is a loop trail in the hills of Albiano d’Ivrea. It passes through vineyards, woods, paths and Ricetti. You can travel it on foot, by mountain bike or gravel bike; it is also an option for exploring the area by bicycle. The different ways of getting around are explicitly part of the trail’s described character.

At intersections, red posts with yellow directional arrows mark the trail. Along the route, red stones with yellow arrows confirm that you are on the right path. Two forms of trail marking are therefore described: posts at intersections and stones along the route. Vineyards and woods define the landscape, while paths and Ricetti are also part of the route.

Ricetti and Castello Vescovile

The Ricetto of Albiano d’Ivrea was built in 1300 to protect the old settlement. The Ricetti stand on terraces on the steep slope below the castle. Their ground floors are built against the earth and generally served as cellars. The term cellaria also points to their historical protective functions: in the Middle Ages, these spaces served as secure storage for food, especially grain and wine, as well as places of refuge in times of danger.

In front of and behind the Ricetti, a paved lane climbs uphill to the castle in a series of bends. It was once covered by vine arbors. The Castello Vescovile is considered very old and is said to have been built on the remains of an ancient Roman villa. It was destroyed again during the civil war of 1641 and subsequently rebuilt in its present form. The castle thus brings together different historical layers: a possible Roman origin, destruction in the 17th century and a later reconstruction.

Churches and their furnishings

The parish church of San Martino was built between 1775 and 1780 on the site of an earlier church. It is a work by royal architect Francesco Martinez da Messina. Its construction dates and predecessor give the church a clearly defined historical context.

The Chiesa di Santa Marta houses an organ attributed to Giovanni Michele Ramasco of Andorno. It was probably moved to its current location in 1834. The museum of the Chiesa di Santa Marta is dedicated to displaying this wooden organ. The Santuario della Madonna della Crosa offers a different architectural accent: it is a Baroque sanctuary with a pseudo-elliptical vault and houses an icon.

Roman route and local history

The Via romana delle Gallie is also part of the town’s history: the ancient Roman road between Ivrea and Vercelli passes through Albiano d’Ivrea. Albiano was also the second seat of the Bishop of Ivrea. The parish was administered directly by the bishop through a provost. These historical roles add an ecclesiastical and administrative perspective to the architectural evidence.

The GOCCE DI MEMORIA Museum offers another glimpse into local history. It is dedicated to farming traditions and was founded by the Associazione Anziani. Together with the churches, castle and Ricetto, the museum shows how many different themes can shed light on the town’s history.

The distinction between the loop trail and the architectural history helps you decide where to focus: the Percorso delle Meraviglie is about the landscape, route and trail markings; the historic buildings reveal earlier functions, building phases and attributed furnishings. You can plan your trip around whether you are more interested in getting out on the loop trail, architectural history or both.

Discover more destinations

Caselette, Montaldo Torinese, Ciriè, Avigliana, Parella, Robassomero, Fiano, Quincinetto

For the overview of the wider area: Turin.