Romano Canavese – Roman traces and historic architecture

Romano Canavese brings together traces of Roman land surveying, buildings from different periods, and a moraine landscape of forests and vineyards. Its cultural and historical highlights include an old bridge, churches, a neoclassical villa, and two distinct towers; the Palude di Romano Canavese adds its own distinctive landscape feature. If you are looking for hotels in Romano Canavese, consider what matters most to you: would you like to focus mainly on Roman traces and architecture, or take the landscape and a possible date for the Festa Patronale into account?

Roman traces in the landscape

Traces of Roman centuriation have been preserved south of Romano Canavese. The course of the Cardo and Decumanus can be seen at the crossroads of the roads connecting Romano Canavese with neighboring settlements. The names refer to the axes of the ancient system; at the crossroads, their connection to the road layout becomes tangible.

An old bridge also survives in the municipality, along the former road that connected Aosta and Turin. Together, these clues offer different perspectives on the area’s history: centuriation as a way of organizing the landscape, the Cardo and Decumanus as ancient axes, and the bridge as part of a former route between Aosta and Turin.

Towers with different histories

The Torre quadrata stands alone on a moraine hill and is the landmark of Romano Canavese. It dates from the 13th century and is mentioned in the statutes of Romano from 1315. The two dates serve different purposes: one places the tower in its historical period, while the other records a written mention.

At its base, the Torre quadrata measures about 5.50 × 5.40 meters and is approximately 27 meters high. Its nearly square ground plan and much greater height give a concrete sense of its proportions. This tower should not be confused with the municipal tower, around which Parco della Torre extends. The municipal tower dates from the 14th century; its bell chamber was added in the 19th century. The similar names therefore refer to buildings from different periods.

Churches and a villa: architecture through the ages

Chiesa di Santa Marta has Romanesque origins, while its present appearance is largely Baroque. Parts of the walls of the ancient Ricetto are incorporated into the church; it is also attached to the southern gate tower. Several phases of the area’s history thus come together in one building.

Parrocchiale dei Santi Pietro e Solutore was built in the 19th century in a neoclassical style connected with the Baroque tradition. Its interior has a central plan and is decorated with frescoes, paintings, and stucco work by prominent artists such as Ayres, Moja, Spinzi, Ferrari, and Augero. The periods come together differently here than at Santa Marta: the latter combines Romanesque origins with a predominantly Baroque present-day appearance, while the former has a neoclassical form associated with the Baroque tradition.

Villa Bocca adds another perspective on the area’s architectural history. This distinguished neoclassical villa has a large garden and was built in the first half of the 19th century by the Viotti family, to a design by the architect Sada. Its construction date, patrons, and design provide a concrete historical context for its architectural classification.

Moraine landscape and the Palude

The moraine hills around Romano Canavese include forests and vineyards. The Palude di Romano Canavese is another precisely defined point of reference: this 66-hectare Site of Community Importance extends across the territories of Romano Canavese and Scarmagno. It lies between the village of the same name and the first rises on the inner side of the right-hand Ivrea Moraine. In this way, the broader hilly landscape and an area spanning two municipalities, with clearly defined boundaries, sit side by side.

Festa Patronale di San Prospero

Gastronomic and dance evenings are regular features of the rich program for the Festa Patronale di San Prospero on Piazza Bachelet.

Discover more destinations: San Giusto Canavese, Pavarolo, Vidracco, Barbania, Torre Pellice, Ala Di Stura, Bardonecchia, Chiesanuova

For the main travel overview: Turin.