Piverone: Trails, Art and Vineyards

Piverone lies on the slopes of the Serra morenica di Ivrea. The municipal area stretches from the average water level of Lago di Viverone, at 230 metres above sea level, to the hilltop at 525 metres. The lakeshore and hills are therefore part of the same municipality. Different themes come together when planning a trip: trails with panoramic views, traces of medieval history, sacred art and a wine-growing landscape.

Trails and panoramas

The Anello V – Al Lago per le Vigne begins at Parco Giochi in Piverone. From there, the route descends along a scenic stretch to the tourist area of Località Anzasco on Lago di Viverone, then returns to the town centre. The starting point, lakeside destination and return form a clear circular route. If you want to choose a walk based on its route, you can distinguish this loop from another hiking reference in Piverone.

On the Via Francigena, a long panoramic stretch follows the Gesiun, with views of Lago di Viverone and the Cella di San Michele. On the Anello V, the start and return to the town centre are part of the route; on the Via Francigena section, its position after the Gesiun and the viewpoints define its character. The two trails can therefore be distinguished by their respective landmarks, without combining them into a single route.

The Gesiun is in Località Torrone, at the intersection of two country roads. Only the perimeter walls and remnants of a fresco remain. The ruin is a specific landmark for the panoramic stretch of the Via Francigena that follows. At the same time, it differs clearly from the churches and towers in the town centre, whose historical and artistic features are still visible in other forms.

Buildings and art in the town centre

Le Cinque Torri di Piverone are an important testament to the Middle Ages in the town centre. Another distinctive structure is the Torre-porta campanaria o dell’orologio on Via del Torrione. The massive gateway has a round arch, loopholes for the three bolzoni of the two former drawbridges, and Ghibelline battlements. Today it serves as a bell and clock tower. Its former role as a gateway and its present-day function offer different historical points of reference.

The Chiesa Parrocchiale dei Santi Pietro e Lorenzo brings together several periods in the town’s history. Its fresco of the Madonna and Child with Saint Anne dates from the second decade of the 16th century and was created by an artist from the circle of Defendente Ferrari. A later artistic period can be seen at the high altar: the Baroque altar was made in 1771 by Francesco Olgiati of Viggiù.

The church’s architectural history reaches further back, too. It was originally Romanesque and may have been the community’s old parish church before the Borgo franco was built. This early history remains a possibility; by contrast, the dates of the fresco and altar refer to specific works and times. Together, the church and Le Cinque Torri offer different points of interest if you want to connect the town’s medieval history with later sacred art.

Museum, lake and wine-growing landscape

The Museo Etnografico La Steiva is an agricultural and ethnographic museum. It preserves evidence of rural society and agricultural work. It complements the buildings with a different perspective on local history: here, the focus is on rural life and work, rather than architecture or sacred art.

The shore of Lago di Viverone falls within the municipal areas of Azeglio, Borgo d'Ale, Piverone and Viverone. The lake is designated a Sito di Importanza Comunitaria for its valuable animal and plant communities, and is recognised and protected by the European Union. Significant stands of large sedges grow at the Maresco di Piverone. These natural features are a distinct focus alongside the trails and cultural sites in the surrounding area.

The hills of Piverone are home to terraced vineyards where, among other wines, Erbaluce is produced. Viticulture, wetland and lake are different aspects of the landscape: vineyards shape the hills, the sedge stands are found at the Maresco, and Lago di Viverone is also a shared geographical reference point for several lakeside municipalities. You can get to know Piverone according to your interests, through its trails, art and local history, or its natural and wine-growing landscape.

Discover more destinations: Andezeno, Chivasso, San Sicario Alto, Castagnole Piemonte, Sant'anna, Beinasco, Sant'antonino Di Susa, Coassolo.

For the broader travel overview: Turin.