Discover Pont Canavese

Pont Canavese offers visitors several distinct cultural and historical themes: traditional copper craftsmanship, plastic processing, ethnographic insights and churches with a long history. If you choose a destination based on specific sights, this overview will help you identify the town’s main points of interest and tailor your stay to your interests.

Museums and Craftsmanship

The Museo del Territorio delle Valli Orco e Soana is housed in the Torre Ferranda. On display are tools and products from traditional copper craftsmanship. The museum visit ends at the top of the tower, where four orientation panels mark important geographical points. The Torre Ferranda stands on a rocky outcrop and is 32 metres high. This visit thus combines a theme from the history of craftsmanship with views of the geographical markers at the top of the tower.

The Museo della Plastica Cannon-Sandretto focuses on a different subject. It is located in a prestigious Liberty-style building at the former Sandretto factory and is dedicated to the history and technology of plastic processing. Its collection comprises more than 2,500 objects. While the Museo del Territorio showcases traditional copper craftsmanship, this museum focuses on plastic and its processing. This contrast helps you understand the different themes of the museums: on one hand, tools and products from a craft; on the other, the history of an industrial technology and an extensive collection.

The Museo Etnografico - Antichi Mestieri draws attention to clothing, trade and the way of life of earlier generations. Traditional costumes are displayed in one room. A further study explores the historic shops of the covered Via del Commercio. The museum also presents the practical and psychological way of life of earlier generations. In this way, it complements the themes of craftsmanship and technological history with insights into everyday culture and trade.

Churches and Local History

The Chiesa di Santa Maria in Doblazio connects regional church history with Pont’s past. It was the mother church of the churches in the Orco and Soana valleys and remained Pont’s parish church until 1879. It can be reached from the built-up area of the town via a climb of about half an hour. Traces of burials can be found in the underground areas. The church’s historical role and the traces in its underground areas offer different insights into its past.

The former San Francesco complex also tells the story of a social mission: the Brotherhood of San Francesco had the church and monastery built so that Franciscan friars could support Pont’s poor population. Only the perimeter walls and a small part of the portico remain. The purpose for which it was built and the surviving structures highlight different aspects: the former points to the planned support for the population, while the latter are the few remaining parts of the complex.

The medieval name “Ad Duos Pontes” is also part of the town’s history. Pont Canavese was known by this name at the time because people entered the town via bridges and had to pay a toll. This explanation connects the name to the former entrance to the town and the associated payment.

Local Products

The shops also offer a tangible link to the region: Pont Canavese is home to the distinctive mountain cheese Toma and well-known grissini. These add two different products to the cultural and historical themes for you to look out for as you explore the town.

Discover more destinations: Dubbione Di Pinasca, Lanzo Torinese, Vico Canavese, Didiero, Campiglia Soana, Nichelino, Parella, Vidracco

For the broader travel overview: Turin.