Discover Orbassano: History, Art and Hotels

Orbassano brings together a river landscape, church and town history, public art and the story of a traditional product. These themes appeal to travellers with different interests: along the Sangone, a public park area and a cycling loop take centre stage; churches and a historic battle offer further perspectives on the past. Sedano Rosso di Orbassano, in turn, connects a local product name with a story of origin.

River Landscape and Cycling

The Orbassano section of Parco Fluviale del Sangone is a public area of about 8 hectares on the right bank of the Sangone.

Percorso H takes a different approach: it is a 19.5-kilometre cycling loop that follows the Sangone and uses almost exclusively dedicated cycle paths. The park is a landscape attraction as a public area on the right bank; Percorso H is a cycling attraction as a loop. This lets you choose how to explore Orbassano’s natural surroundings based on the kind of outing you want.

Churches and Town History

Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista brings together several historical periods. Its predecessor, dating from the 16th century, had been built on the remains of a medieval religious building. On 4 June 1895, it partially collapsed; the church was fully rebuilt in 1986. Its history therefore spans medieval religious remains, the 16th-century church and its 20th-century reconstruction.

The interior paintings in Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista also have their own date: Giovanni Stura created them in 1892, and they belong to the Nazarene art movement. They were painted before the partial collapse of the predecessor church; the full reconstruction followed in 1986. The paintings and the building’s history thus offer different perspectives on the timeline of the same church.

Chiesa della Confraternita dello Spirito Santo is considered the only surviving intact building of old Orbassano. This gives it a different place in the town’s history from the sequence of events surrounding the predecessor church of San Giovanni Battista: here, the focus is on its connection to old Orbassano.

The Battle of Marsaglia is also part of the town’s history. It took place in Orbassano on 4 October 1693 and is also known as the Battle of Orbassano. French troops fought on one side and the troops of Victor Amadeus II on the other. Both names refer to the same event.

Public Art

Another cultural theme is Orbassano ad Arte. A municipal account from September 2025 attributes a work inspired by Vincent van Gogh to the project, located on Via Cervetti. This public-art connection complements the historical themes of the churches and local events.

Sedano Rosso di Orbassano

Sedano Rosso di Orbassano is a traditional product. Its origins date back to the introduction of purple celery from France in the 17th century by Duchess Anna Maria d’Orleans. The celery is distinguished by a reddish colour at the base of the stalks, a more intense aroma and a slightly almond-like taste. Its origins and characteristics complement each other: its history places the product in time, while its colour, aroma and taste describe its specific qualities. So, alongside buildings, art and river scenery, a culinary connection is another way to explore Orbassano.

Discover more destinations: San Pietro Val Lemina, Villar Perosa, Piamprato, Ruà, Pavone Canavese, Chieri, Champlas Seguin, Stazione

For the overview of the wider area: Turin.