“Viaggiare è un modo diverso di vedere le cose” Proust said it, and that’s exactly what happens to those who walk in the footsteps of Don Bosco: a journey of almost 200 km through history and landscapes, wines and good food, from the center of Turin to the Po river, from the slopes of Superga to the hills of the Chierese, up to the basilica of the Colle, where the history of the saint of the young began, inside a small rural house at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
Seeing things differently allows one to discover an unexpected variety of landscapes that make this territory an unknown author. unicum in Italy: from the colorful and bustling Turin of the Porta Palazzo market to the lively banks of the Po, from the hillside woods to the vineyards on the ridges, from the historic center of Chieri to the Lands of the Saints.
A path for hikers but also for all those who wish to understand the spirit and history of the places traversed by Giovanni Bosco and his boys, who were welcomed into that revolutionary educational project embodied by the Oratory of Don Bosco.
The Cammino Don Bosco, promoted by the Metropolitan City of Turin, the Municipality of Chieri, and the Salesian Family, was realized by ASD Nordic Walking Andrate within the framework of the ‘Strade di Colori e Sapori‘ Project.
“Siccome poi facevamo frequenti camminate in luoghi anche lontani, così io ne descriverò una fatta a Superga, da cui si conoscerà come si facevano le altre. Raccolti i giovani nel prato e dato loro tempo di giuocare alquanto alle bocce, alle piastrelle, alle stampelle, si suonava un tamburo, quindi una tromba che segnava la radunanza e la partenza. Si procurava che ognuno ascoltasse la messa e poco dopo le 9 partimmo alla volta di Superga. Chi portava canestri di pane, chi cacio o salame o frutta od altre cose necessarie per quella giornata. Si osservava silenzio sin fuori delle abitazioni della città, di poi cominciavano gli schiamazzi, canti e grida, ma sempre in fila e ordinati”.
from “Memorie dell’Oratorio” of Giovanni Bosco
The description of the stages in the Guide is made starting from the Sanctuary of Maria Ausiliatrice and arriving at Colle Don Bosco, but the Way can also be traveled in a loop, combining the high, middle, and low paths with departure and return to Turin.
The high Path or the Superga-Crea, starts from the Basilica di Maria Ausiliatrice, follows the Po River to the Meisino Nature Reserve, and then ascends to Superga. The route then passes through Bric Croce, Bardassano, Sciolze, Cinzano, Cascina Moglia (Moncucco T.se), Lovencito (Moriondo T.se), and the hamlet of Serra in Buttigliera d'Asti, finally reaching Colle Don Bosco. (Total length 56.5 km - Elevation gain +1,418 m)
The Medium Trail or the Lago di Arignano Trail, follows the High Trail to Bric Croce, then reaches Baldissero T.se, Pavarolo, Montaldo T.se, Marentino, Arignano, the Barbaso district of Moncucco T.se, and Cascina Moglia before rejoining the Cammino alto. (Total length 50.9 km - Elevation gain +1,054 m)
The Low Path or the San Domenico Savio Trail, follows the Po River to the Isabella Bridge (Medieval Village, Valentino Park), then ascends to Colle della Maddalena and passes through the Hermitage of the Camaldolese, Pecetto T.se, Pino T.se, Chieri (Don Bosco Visitor Center), San Giovanni di Riva near Chieri (birthplace of San Domenico Savio), Croce Grande in Buttigliera d'Asti, and finally Cascina Mainito, from where you quickly reach Colle Don Bosco. (Total length 43.3 km - Elevation gain +704 m)
The Cammino di Don Bosco offers various variations and connections along the three paths, as well as other routes (Capriglio Ring, Trofarello Ring, routes from Buttigliera d'Asti and Villanova d'Asti to Colle Don Bosco).
The Rings of the Cammino Don Bosco offer identified and described paths to hikers to enhance and promote the local communities along the trail. These paths share a section – of varying length – with the Don Bosco Trail. The maps of the Rings are available at the hiking INFOpoint of the Turin Hill Trails – Don Bosco Trail and have been created thanks to the work of Claudio Baldi, Ute Ludwig, and Paolo Deluca, adopting a graphic style similar to the maps of the Romanesque Hill Network, created by theAssociazione in Collina – Turismo nel cuore del Piemonte 
The Guide provides detailed descriptions of the route for each stage, covering a total of about 200 km. It offers all the necessary information to
The Don Bosco Way should be undertaken with a decent level of physical preparation: it’s necessary to be accustomed to walking with a backpack for
The market offers a wide range of hiking products, suitable for every season, need, and budget. One should seek the best equipment for the climatic
The choice of backpack depends on the duration of the hike. It’s important to adjust the straps and shoulder harness to balance the weight. Light
The Don Bosco Way has been marked with great care, and normally a map is sufficient to follow it. However, in foggy conditions, GPS assistance
Torino Railway Station – Porta Susa (trains to and from Chieri)Bus Line 61 (S. Mauro T.se, via Mezzaluna-along Po-Turin, largo Marconi)Sassi-Superga Rack Railway or Substitute
For information and to organize multi-day treks and daily excursions led by certified Environmental Hiking Guides or Instructors, contact the Amateur Sports Association Nordic Walking
The Cammino Don Bosco trail spans the territories of 23 municipalities in the Turin and Asti regions, 10 of which are part of the Strade di Colori e Sapori Project.
The Strade di Colori e Sapori project was initiated in 2006 with the aim of promoting and enhancing the hilly terrain in the southern zone of Turin and its natural extension into the plains. This area boasts a myriad of attractions, encompassing landscapes that largely preserve a valuable natural and rural environment. It’s also dotted with small villages and towns housing historical, artistic, and architectural treasures of significant cultural value.
Supported by the Metropolitan City of Turin, ATL Turismo Turin and Province, the Po and Turin Hills Protected Area Management Authority, and the Municipalities of Arignano, Cambiano, Carmagnola, Chieri, Cinzano, Marentino, Pavarolo, Pecetto T.se, Pino T.se, Pralormo, Riva presso Chieri, Santena, Sciolze, and Trofarello,the project aims to foster a culture of hospitality that enables visitors and tourists to discover the beauty, spirit, and traditions of these places.
Hiking trails, cycling paths, museums, parks, agricultural and wine estates, educational farms: these are among the many opportunities the Strade di Colori e Sapori territory offers to those interested in practicing environmentally conscious and gentle forms of tourism.
Among these opportunities are the Cammino di Don Bosco, the Anelli del Cammino di Don Bosco, and the Cycle-Hiking Paths of the Strade di Colori e Sapori, initiatives born within the project and supported by it.
The authors extend their gratitude to Elena Di Bella (Head of Rural and Mountain Development Sector of the Metropolitan City of Turin) and Elena Comollo (Councilor for Territory Promotion and Tourism of the Municipality of Chieri) for promoting and supporting the Don Bosco Trail project. They also express gratitude to Gianpaolo Fassino (University of Eastern Piedmont) and Don Egidio Deiana for providing information about Don Bosco’s life, and to Don Gianni Moriondo for information about Cascina Moglia. Special thanks go to Stefano Rossotto (Cinzano), Carlo Nosenzo (Cinzano), Piero Trichero (Capriglio), the cultural association La Cabalesta, and the social promotion association Camminare Lentamente for their collaboration in identifying certain sections of the Trail.
The authors appreciate the photographers for generously providing images of the territory and allowing their use in accordance with agreements. The majority of the iconographic material on this website is owned by the authors Claudio Baldi and Ute Erika Ludwig. The remaining part belongs to the following authors:
Alessandro Accossato (Pralormo)
Andrea Carestiato (Baldissero Torinese)
Paolo Deluca (Baldissero Torinese, Andezeno)
Ph Autophocus (Cambiano)
Lucia Romussi (Chieri)
Jeremie Tshimanga
The caption of each photograph indicates the author’s name. If the caption lacks a name, the photograph is attributed to Claudio Baldi, Ute Erika Ludwig, or an unknown author.
