Discover Chiomonte
Accommodation in Chiomonte
In the center of Chiomonte, narrow streets, old fountains and winding lanes shape the townscape. They preserve features of historic Alpine villages. Together with church art, the history of the Pertus, the Pian del Frais ski area and the wine tradition surrounding AvanĂ , they offer a range of themes for your trip.
Townscape, art and churches
The G. A. Levis Picture Gallery is housed in a 16th-century palace associated with the Paleologo family of Chiomonte. It preserves an extensive collection of paintings that documents much of G. A. Levis’s artistic career from 1900 to 1926. Painting takes center stage here, while Chiomonte’s churches introduce other themes in art and architectural history.
In the hamlet of Ramats, the Church of Sant’Andrea has a Renaissance fresco cycle depicting the Annunciation and the martyrdom of Saint Andrew. The Church of Santa Caterina was built in the years immediately after 1208 as an oratory for a hospital. It preserves restored 14th-century frescoes. The bell tower of the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta rises above the surrounding area; it was built in 1432 in the Romanesque Dauphiné style. The examples differ both in their dates and in their imagery: from the medieval frescoes in Santa Caterina and the Renaissance cycle in Ramats to the Romanesque style of the bell tower.
The Pertus: history and visiting conditions
The Pertus is a hydraulic tunnel excavated between 1526 and 1533 by the miner Colombano Romean. It was commissioned by the residents of Cels, a hamlet of Exilles, and Ramats, a hamlet of Chiomonte. The tunnel was intended to carry water from the Rio Touilles to irrigate the entire hillside. Its history also makes the Pertus a testament to how water was intended to be used for agriculture.
The tunnel is about 450 meters long. Visible features include excavation marks, niches for lamps, and depictions of crosses, human faces and French lilies carved into the rock. The Pertus can be reached from the hamlet of Ramats via an unpaved road to the Grange Rigaud at an elevation of 1,450 meters, then by a trail toward Quattro Denti. The Pertus itself can be carefully traversed in autumn when the water level is low. A flashlight and spare shoes are essential; the season, water level and this equipment should therefore all be considered when planning your visit.
Winter at Pian del Frais and the January festival
The Pian del Frais ski area is located in a mountain hamlet in the municipality of Chiomonte. The ski area is considered suitable for families, beginners and school groups. As seasonal operations may change, check the latest operating information before your visit. This will help you plan your winter trip according to actual operating conditions rather than interpreting the suitability description as a guarantee of specific operating arrangements.
The January festival of San Sebastiano is also part of Chiomonte’s winter profile and features the Dance of the Puento. Individual event dates may vary. If you would like to include the festival in your travel plans, check the date for your travel year.
AvanĂ and the wine tradition
Avanà is considered Chiomonte’s most representative grape variety and received Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) status in 1997. A notable milestone in local wine history is the Chiomonte San Sebastiano ice wine. It was produced from the first experimental grape harvest on January 20, 2006, in the vineyards of the Comunità Montana Alta Valle di Susa, where the indigenous Avanà grape variety is grown. The wine tradition thus adds a distinct local theme to the cultural and mountain-related attractions.
Discover more destinations: Airali, Chiesanuova, Collegno, Beinasco, Rivalba, Poirino, Rondissone, Buttigliera Alta.
For the regional travel overview: Turin.
