Almese – Roman History, Nature and Trails

Almese brings together Roman landmarks, cycling and walking trails, and natural sites with a variety of features. For trip planning, you can consider cultural sites, time frames and park facilities separately. This way, you can decide whether your stay should focus more on history, outdoor activities or a break in the countryside.

Roman history in Rivera

The Roman villa is an archaeological site dating from the 1st century AD in Grange di Rivera, at the foot of Monte Musinè. The ground floor has been preserved, along with parts of the monumental entrance, central courtyard and a large terrace facing south towards the valley. These named architectural features give the site a connection to ancient history: alongside its dating, the entrance, courtyard and terrace orientation are also part of what remains.

The Ricetto di San Mauro is in the Rivera district; its first documented mention dates from 1029. Together with the villa, dated to the 1st century AD, these represent two distinctly different historical periods: an archaeological site from Roman times and a medieval documentary record.

Trails and time for activities

The Percorso delle Guardie – ROSSO mountain bike loop starts in Pera Pluc. It is just over 8 kilometres long, with 400 metres of elevation gain, and takes an average of 2 hours without breaks. The Sacra Natura mountain bike route connects Almese with Sacra di San Michele; the total time is 3.5 hours without breaks. Both times exclude breaks, but differ in that the first route’s time is an average, while the second is a total time. Bear this in mind when planning your time, and confirm route details locally before setting off.

The trail to Goja del Pis starts at Almese’s central square, by the S. Anna bridge. The route is listed as taking around 50 minutes, with 150 metres of elevation gain. Its starting point, approximate duration and ascent give you a separate basis for planning this walk.

Bike Park Ghibaudo has two practice tracks: one for children, about 50 metres long, and one for teenagers, about 400 metres long and 2 metres wide. With its two tracks, the bike park differs from the mountain bike routes mentioned above. The facility’s layout may change, so check the details before visiting.

Natural sites and time outdoors

At the Arboreto didattico in Pian dei Listelli, a woodland area has been equipped for nature education. The site includes explanatory panels, a footpath and a semicircular arena. From Pera Pluc, you can reach the arboretum by following 700 metres of the firebreak track. Include this approach in your plans and check the condition of the trail before setting out.

Parco Robinson is a green space covering more than 9,500 square metres on the Via Francigena, between Rivera town centre and the industrial area. Facilities include picnic tables, children’s play equipment, a fountain and a small pond; these facilities may change. If a particular facility is important for your visit, check in advance whether it is currently available.

Seasonal fishing hours are listed for Lago Tre Pais: in summer, from 7:30 am to 6:30 pm seven days a week; in winter, from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm. Check the current hours and access conditions before your visit, as both may change.

Discover more destinations: Pecetto, Sauze D'oulx, Caselette, Val Della Torre, Parella, Chiesanuova, Strambinello, Carella.

For the regional travel overview: Turin.