San Gillio: Villanova, Sant’Egidio and La Mandria

San Gillio combines local medieval history with cultural activities and a connection to La Mandria Nature Park. Villanova was established following an agreement in 1324 and had already been completed by 1331. The small medieval church of Sant’Egidio still stands, and the parish church of Sant’Egidio was expanded in 1887. Other offerings include art and theatre classes at the municipal library, as well as riding lessons for beginners at the La Coccinella riding club. If you are looking for a hotel in San Gillio, these themes can help you consider the town in light of your own travel interests.

Villanova: Agreement, Construction and Location

In 1324, Filippo di Savoia-Acaia made an agreement with the residents of San Gillio to build Villanova. By 1331, Villanova had already been completed. This means seven years elapsed between the agreement and completion. There is also a difference in location: Villanova was built on a different hill from the earlier settlement. The agreement identifies both parties to the project: Filippo di Savoia-Acaia and the residents of San Gillio. The town’s development can therefore be considered in terms of who was involved, the construction period and the location. For travellers interested in the history of medieval settlements, San Gillio raises three specific questions: Who agreed to the construction, when was Villanova completed, and on which hill was it built in relation to the earlier settlement?

Sant’Egidio: Church and Expansion

The small medieval church of Sant’Egidio still stands today and is in fairly good condition. In 1887, the parish church of Sant’Egidio was expanded with two side chapels beside the main altar. This identifies both the condition of a medieval church building and a later structural change. The expansion can be placed in time by its year and in space by the location of the chapels. If you are interested in church architecture, this detail draws attention to a specific feature of the interior: the side chapels beside the main altar—not just the age of the building.

Culture, Riding Lessons and the Nature Park

The municipal library in San Gillio offers art and theatre classes on its premises. The La Coccinella riding club offers riding lessons for beginners. These offerings cater to different interests: cultural classes on the one hand, and an introduction to riding lessons specifically aimed at beginners on the other. When planning, it is helpful to distinguish between the offerings: the library lists two subject areas for classes, while La Coccinella specifies a type of instruction and its target group. This can help you distinguish between cultural classes and an introduction to horse riding as you choose your travel interests.

La Mandria Nature Park also includes the municipality of San Gillio. This gives San Gillio a connection to a protected landscape as well as its medieval local history. This offers a different perspective for considering the destination than the cultural and activity offerings described: Villanova and Sant’Egidio represent history, the library and La Coccinella offer specific activities, and La Mandria represents the connection to the nature park. If you are weighing a destination against several interests, you can consider these aspects separately.

Discover more destinations: Romano Canavese, San Pietro Val Lemina, San Sicario Alto, Sant'antonino Di Susa, Sparone, Perosa Argentina, Montaldo Torinese, Vidracco.

For the main travel overview: Turin.