Rubiana: Trails, Nature and Culture

Rubiana lies in a mountainous amphitheatre on the left bank of the Dora Riparia. Forests, meadows and pastures shape the landscape, alongside historic trails, cultural sites and local specialities. The different themes offer various ways to plan your trip: hiking trails tell the story of the area, while art and architecture reveal other facets of the town.

Hiking Trails and Historic Traces

Rubiana has an extensive network of trails of varying lengths, many of which are historically or naturally significant. The Sentiero della Libertà connects the Casa del Parco in Favella with Colle del Lys. Check current trail conditions locally before setting out on this route. Another trail, 4 km long, leads from the Santuario della Madonna della Bassa to Colle del Lys. Partisans used it as a lookout trail overlooking the entire Susa Valley—a tangible historical link along the route.

The old mule tracks also tell the story of how the routes were used: they were built with stones set into the ground, and some sections have survived to this day. Rocca Sella can be reached from Favella via a ridge trail. The routes vary in length and character, offering both shorter and longer options in the same area, as well as a range of historical and landscape themes.

For mountain biking, the routes described include circuits on forest roads and firebreaks. One loop runs from Almese to Madonna della Bassa and passes below the west side of Truc del Faro. To return to Rubiana, you can take the provincial road or the mule tracks. This offers a different way to plan a trip than the hiking trails: the route description focuses on the circuit, forest roads and possible return routes.

Woodland and Nature at Colle del Lys

Rubiana’s landscape includes chestnut, oak, beech, larch and pine forests, as well as meadows and pastures. In spring, gentians, lilies and orchids bloom in the clearings of Parco Naturale del Colle del Lys. The park is also home to Euphorbia gibelliana, a sun-loving species endemic to Piedmont.

The park is also an important habitat for black grouse courtship displays and the reproduction of numerous insect species. Its natural features range from the plants found in the clearings to the habitats of its wildlife. They form a distinct focus alongside Rubiana’s historic trails and architecture.

Cultural Sites and History

Rubiana was first recorded in a document in 1029, when Manfredi, Marquis of Turin, and his wife Berta donated the area to the Abbey of San Giusto in Susa. The churches also offer insights into the development of the local settlements. The Chiesa Parrocchiale di Sant'Egidio was rebuilt in 1607, expanding an existing 16th-century building, and solemnly consecrated in 1769. The Parrocchiale di San Giuseppe was built towards the end of the 18th century. In Mompellato, the Parrocchiale dei Santi Grato e Maria Maddalena dates back to the expansion of the Chapel of San Grato e Santa Maria Maddalena in 1808.

Fiabe e Boschi is also a cultural project that has created an art gallery spread across the area. The Pinacoteca Comunale Francesco Tabusso houses more than a hundred works and aims to reconstruct the artistic landscape of Piedmont in the second half of the 20th century. The collection may change over time. The Pinacoteca is accessible to people with disabilities and can be reached by public transport; there are accessible stops nearby.

Another museum spread across the area includes a museum site, a tower, the Garden of Peace, the mass grave site and the Sentieri della memoria. Together with the churches and the art project, it shows that Rubiana’s cultural sites are not confined to a single building.

Local Specialities

Rubiana’s acidic soils are particularly well suited to growing soft fruit, especially raspberries. Traditional baked goods include the Rubianese and the Tegolino di Favella. The Rubianese is a crisp biscuit made with Marsalla in the dough. The similar Tegolino is rectangular, brown and light; it contains no Marsala and originated from the need to use up uncooked cake batter. Comparing the two makes their differences clear without overlooking their shared biscuit form.

Getting to the Nature Park

Parco Naturale del Colle del Lys can be reached from Turin by car via Pianezza, Alpignano, Almese and Rubiana. There is also a GTT bus connection from Porta Susa; this service does not run during the winter months. Check the timetable for your travel date before planning your journey around it. This makes the seasonal limitation and the specific travel option clear for your planning.

Discover more destinations: Strambinello, Maglione, Cinzano, Piverone, Cuorgnè, San Pietro Val Lemina, Torre, Borgone Susa.

For the main travel overview: Turin.