Chiaverano: Romanesque Art, Trails and Lake Sirio

Chiaverano combines its Romanesque heritage with landscapes to explore on foot and Lake Sirio. This offers several ways to plan a trip: the history surrounding Santo Stefano di Sessano, walking trails through vineyards and forests, or the lake. The Via Francigena is also part of the town’s identity: Chiaverano lies on the network of routes leading from Canterbury to Rome and the ports of Apulia.

Romanesque Art and the History of Craftsmanship

The Chiesa di Santo Stefano di Sessano is a Romanesque church dating from around the year 1000. It is the surviving church of the village of Sessano, which was destroyed by a landslide. Inside, it preserves a fresco cycle from the 11th and 12th centuries, regarded as one of the most important examples of Romanesque painting in the Canavese area. Those interested in the region’s art history will find a connection here between the building, medieval painting and the story of the vanished village.

The Museo del fabbro “la botega del frèr” also tells the story of local craftsmanship. It is housed in the building where Teatro Majota Mastro Antonio began operating in 1700. A waterwheel, restored in 1997, still powers the workshop machinery. The Campanile di Chiaverano adds a different architectural feature: the 65-metre-high tower is visible from neighbouring towns as well.

The medieval garden Hortus Conclusus is also located near Santo Stefano. It has around twelve beds with different rosemary cultivars, which bloom from April to September. The garden adds an insight into the local rosemary-growing tradition to a visit to the church—a tradition also present elsewhere in Chiaverano.

Walking Trails and Landscapes

Walking trails in Chiaverano pass through vineyards, forest paths, paved mule tracks and rural lanes. These different types of routes offer varying views of the landscape, and not all the trails have the same character. Chiaverano also offers views of the Ivrea Moraine Amphitheatre. The terraced vineyards shape the landscape with a distinctive construction method: they are supported by slender monopoles known as “Culigne”.

On the Serra, the hamlet of Scalveis covers 100 hectares of unspoilt landscape. The surrounding municipal chestnut and beech forests contain the ruined former mountain huts of Chiaverano. The landscape also features large, isolated erratic boulders known as “Roc”. They provide a different focal point from the orderly lines of the vineyard terraces.

The Terre Ballerine, a peat bog, are an unusual landform. When you walk on the ground and press down, it visibly moves beneath your feet. This feature is quite different from the firm trails and landscapes around the vineyards and forests, and offers a distinct reason to explore Chiaverano’s natural side.

Lake Sirio and Rosemary from Chiaverano

Lake Sirio is one of the area’s few swimming lakes. The Piedmont Region has designated it a site of significant ecological interest; there are two bathing facilities at the lake. If you are planning a stay by the water, check the current availability of the bathing facilities in advance. This lets you include the lake in your plans without conflating its ecological importance with the swimming facilities.

Rosemary connects the garden tradition with a local product offering. The Bottega del Rosmarino showcases the selected rosemary varieties grown by the Associazione del Rosmarino in Chiaverano. Together with the approximately twelve beds at the Hortus Conclusus, it presents two distinct aspects of this theme: the medieval garden near Santo Stefano and the varieties selected by the local association. Whether you are choosing between culture, trails, scenery and the lake, Chiaverano offers several clearly distinct reasons to visit.

Discover more destinations: None Turin, Gravere, Venaria Reale, Vigone, Locana, Moncenisio, Roletto, Valgioie.

See the overview of the wider area: Turin.