Front: Churches, Chapels and Nature along the Rio Verdeis

In Front, a range of cultural and landscape themes come together to help you plan your trip: a parish church mentioned in early records, chapels with their own architectural and artistic histories, a circular trail along the Rio Verdeis, and visible ruins in a forest clearing. The historic buildings can be distinguished by their dates and features; the nature trail offers a different focus. This gives you a chance to consider which theme you would like to make the focus of your stay.

Churches and Chapels in Front

The Parrocchiale di Santa Maria Maddalena is first mentioned in a document dating from 1190. Among the sacred buildings mentioned here, it is the earliest dated reference. The Cappella di San Domenico, by contrast, is notable for later structural changes: it was enlarged in 1765 and then restored several times. The dates offer different historical points of reference—an early mention in a document in one case, and a specific enlargement followed by further restorations in the other.

The furnishings of the Cappella di San Domenico also have their own history. It houses an elaborate wooden statue of Saint Dominic, installed in 1890. It replaced an earlier papier-mâché statue. The same chapel thus reveals both structural changes and a change in the material and design of the figure. For travelers interested in culture, this is a specific detail that goes beyond the mere dating of a building.

The Cappella di Sant'Antonio Abate is a remarkable Rococo building. Bartolomeo Gilardino of San Benigno completed the chapel in 1793 to a design by Turin architect Felice Maria Morari. The information distinguishes the roles of the two contributors: Gilardino was responsible for its completion, while Morari designed it. Together with its art-historical classification, this offers a distinct perspective on the chapel's architectural history.

For the Cappella di San Rocco, Bertolotti gives an approximate date of around 1600. This estimated date is well before the enlargement of San Domenico in 1765 and the completion of Sant'Antonio Abate in 1793. Comparing the sacred buildings mentioned here therefore offers several different points of reference in time, without reducing them to a single building period.

Access is also described for some of the chapels: San Domenico and San Rocco can be reached directly from the piazza without barriers or obstacles. Sant'Antonio Abate can be reached directly from the road and also has no barriers or obstacles. If you are planning a visit, check the current visiting arrangements in advance and confirm the access conditions again.

Circular Trail and Historical Traces

The Percorso Naturalistico Il Rio Verdeis circular trail runs around the upper section of the Rio Verdeis. Its starting point is on the southwestern edge of Grange di Front, a hamlet in the municipality of Front. Both the route and a specific starting point are therefore identified. If you plan to walk the trail, you can use this starting point as a guide. Trail conditions can change, so check them before your trip.

Another historical trace is the complex known as “di Madama Cristina,” whose ruins can be seen in a densely wooded clearing in Front. This is distinct from the account of Bricco della Torre, the hill above the present-day nursing home: according to one interpretation, an ancient Lombard castle of Front stood there. Its remains were removed in 1964. The visible ruins of the complex and the castle history, located there only according to one interpretation, are therefore different topics for exploring the past of the area.

Discover more destinations: Sant'antonino Di Susa, Busano, Torre Pellice, Torrazza Piemonte, Chiomonte, Carella, La Loggia, Marentino.

For the broader travel overview: Turin.