Arborea: Cascina Piccono and regional history

Arborea lies on the left bank of the Canale Cavour. A historic landmark is Cascina Piccono; the 5.6-kilometre Percorso P cycle route also follows the canal to this complex. This brings together the waterway, a specific cycling route and the history of the buildings. If you are looking for hotels in Arborea, these topics can help you decide what to focus on during your trip—architecture, local history or a bike ride, for example.

Cascina Piccono and Chiesetta di Sant’Eurosia

The first historical records of Cascina Piccono date from 1669. At that time, it was listed in a cadastre of Verolengo. Its architectural layout also offers a distinct perspective on the history of the area: the complex follows the plan typical of farmsteads on the Piedmont-Lombardy plain. Buildings stand on all four sides, enclosing a courtyard. The courtyard is therefore the space at the centre of a continuous complex arranged on four sides.

The Chiesetta di Sant’Eurosia is located at Cascina Piccono. It dates from the 18th century and has a central floor plan. A small east-facing apse with an altar is another specific feature of the chapel. The two architectural forms are therefore clearly distinct: at the Cascina, the floor plan is shaped by the courtyard enclosed by buildings; at the Chiesetta, it is defined by the central layout and the apse.

The Chiesetta contains three paintings. The most important is dedicated to Saint Eurosia and is located behind the altar. The chapel’s layout and artwork offer two different perspectives: its central floor plan and the orientation of the apse describe its architecture, while the paintings add a specific religious theme.

Canale Cavour and the cycle route

The Canale Cavour is both a geographical reference point for Arborea and part of the route description for Percorso P. The 5.6-kilometre cycle route runs along the canal and leads to Cascina Piccono di Arborea. Anyone wishing to visit the complex by bike has a named route and a clear destination. Route conditions may change; check them before setting out.

There is also a specific way to reach Cascina Piccono by road: take State Road 31 bis and follow the signs to the nearby centre of Arborea. Signage and road conditions may change, so check both before travelling.

Historical references and local tradition

Arborea has been historically documented in the Verolengo area since the second half of the 16th century. The ancient Mansio Quadrata lies just south of the Arborea district. Together with the 1669 cadastral entry for the Cascina, these provide different points of reference in time: the ancient site, the historical record of Arborea in the 16th century and the written record of the Cascina in the 17th century.

Another facet of local tradition is the Festa del Ringraziamento. It is a rural thanksgiving for the gifts of the earth, favourable weather and good health. Saint Anthony Abbot is invoked as the patron saint of animals. The celebration takes place on 17 January or the following public holiday. If the festival is relevant to your travel plans, check the date against the local calendar.

Discover more destinations: Ciriè, Candiolo, Avigliana, Plan, Stazione, Fenestrelle, Chivasso, Monti.

For the broader travel overview: Turin.