Borgofranco D'ivrea: Ricetto, Balmetti and Vineyards

Borgofranco D'ivrea combines medieval architectural history with vineyards, trails and its own culinary traditions. The Ricetto, the Balmetti and the landscape of Montebuono each offer a different perspective: in the town center, historic buildings and their former functions shape the scene, while distinctive natural and cultural spaces can be found beyond the center.

The Ricetto and the town's medieval history

The Ricetto was built between 1256 and 1277 and has survived almost intact. Its streets are laid out regularly; the rural-style houses have large arcaded loggias. The wide Travà, which served as stables and haylofts, are also characteristic. These architectural details reveal how the houses were used in the past: the arcades and Travà are not merely decorative features, but show how residential life and agricultural work were brought together in the Ricetto.

Palazzo Marini stands within the original medieval town center, near the gate leading toward Ivrea. Its tower dates from the last quarter of the 13th century. The municipal tourist office is on the ground floor. The building thus brings together historical architecture and a present-day municipal function, without conflating different periods.

Churches and historic uses

The churches’ architectural history spans different periods. The parish church of Madonna del Rosario e dei Santi Maurizio e Germano is Baroque in style and was built in 1663. The exterior of the Chiesa di Santa Marta is medieval in design; extensive alterations to the building were made in 1691. These details refer to different features: for one church, its style and construction date are recorded; for the other, its medieval-style exterior and later alterations.

The Domus Sancti Spiriti also tells of a building’s former uses. It dates from the 15th century and served as the headquarters of a confraternity. Until 1600, it was also used as a rectory and a school. A large villa surrounded by greenery once served a different purpose: it was Borgofranco D'ivrea’s hydrotherapy spa. These examples broaden the picture beyond churches and defensive architecture to include the town’s social and institutional uses.

Balmetti, vineyards and trails

In the Balmetti, air currents known as “Ore” create a distinctive microclimate. The temperature remains constant at 7–8 °C, and the humidity also stays steady. The former Birrificio De Giacomi in the Balmetti is an example of industrial archaeology. The De Giacomi family brewery opened in the hamlet of Biò between the mid-19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The area is therefore notable both for a natural phenomenon and for traces of past production.

Balmetti art – Place of art and culture adds a cultural trail: this art path connects the lower and upper Balmetti. The Rio Rosso, a small tributary of the Dora, offers another way to experience the landscape. Its yellow-gold color comes from mineral pigments washed down from a quarry upstream.

The Via Francigena passes through Borgofranco D'ivrea and can be explored on foot or by bicycle. On a different scale, the green-and-blue Big Bench No. 184 in Località Montebuono sits at a viewpoint reached by a short walk through the vineyards. The hills of Montebuono also feature sculpted vineyard landscapes, visible as you approach Borgofranco D'ivrea from Baio Dora. This makes it possible to distinguish between a longer route, a short approach to a viewpoint and views of the vineyards as separate landscape experiences.

Local specialties

Local specialties include miasse with salignun; Vin dai Balmit is the local wine. Another typical product is canestrelli. These thin pastries are crisp and embossed with family crests. Canestrelli are still made by hand at the Bottega del Canestrello, which also operates a vintage café. Local specialties thus range from a typical pastry to a wine and a savory dish.

If you are planning your stay around particular themes, you can choose between the architectural history of the Ricetto, the trails and landscapes around the Balmetti, and local produce. The historical record spans the 13th-century Ricetto, the building of the Domus Sancti Spiriti and the alterations to Santa Marta in 1691. The vineyards of Montebuono, the Rio Rosso and the Balmetti with their microclimate, meanwhile, are highlights of the landscape. These distinctions give your trip concrete points of focus without combining the individual places or themes into a single route.

Discover more destinations: Strambinello, San Raffaele, Gravere, Lombardore, Bruino, Chiesanuova, Ala Di Stura, Isolabella.

For the broader travel overview: Turin.