ANELLO DI MADONNA DELLA SCALA
Start and finish: Strada del Verde (intersection on Viale Cappuccini, parking available) – Chieri
Length: 9.5 km Elevation: +181 m
Hiking difficulty: from flat to undulating
Water: Drinking fountain at a public park – Madonna della Scala hamlet
Follow Strada del Verde and turn left after about 370 m onto a narrow road marked by a barrier. After another 180 m, turn right near an oak tree, following an unpaved road winding among fields. After 380 m, pass by a hut adjacent to a row of grapevines, then turn left onto a dirt road after 70 m (Via dei Tigli) next to a cabin. After passing a majestic oak tree, turn right alongside a house fence, cross a barrier, and continue downhill. After 150 m, turn right onto Strada del Chiaventone, pass the former convent, and reach a crossroad after about 750 m. Follow Strada del Vibernone to the left, ignore the next small road on the left, then turn left after about 300 m onto Strada della Molina, and right 200 m later near Villa Rasero. Continue until reaching Via Madonna della Scala (3.5 km from the start, near a public park). Turn right, cross the Madonna della Scala hamlet watching for traffic, pass by the beautiful Church of Santa Maria della Scala on the left, then turn left onto a dirt road (signposted “Establo restaurant”) after about 500 m from the intersection. After about 600 m, turn right just past the restaurant (formerly a convent), walk alongside its fence, continue on a narrow path along a field, which soon becomes a comfortable unpaved road. After approximately 880 m, turn right onto a small road near Meandro San Felice (5.5 km from the start). At SP 123, turn right and continue for 600 m along Villa Passatempo‘s wall, watching for traffic, then turn left onto Strada Tetti Rocco. Ascend for about 700 m until intersecting Strada Tetti Marsino. Turn right (beautiful view of Villa Brea) and reach the previously passed crossroad after 700 m. Continue straight on the dirt road of Strada del Chiaventone, then turn left after 450 m, ascending on a path near a grove, which after about 200 m leads to Via degli Tigli. Turn left here to reach Viale Cappuccini after 300 m. Follow right, being mindful of heavy traffic, to return to the starting point after a little over 650 m.
The limy and clayey fluvial deposits of the Meandro San Felice relic date back to the early Middle Pleistocene (around 781000 years ago), representing evidence of fluvial modeling by an ancient watercourse (paleo-Po)when it flowed south of the Turin hill, eastward through the Asti hills.
Villa Il Passatempo delle Dame di Verrua was constructed at the end of the 1600s. The building – surrounded by a centuries-old park, with avenues among oaks, Lombardy poplars, cypress trees, cedars, and water features – exhibits in its harmonious yet severe lines the neoclassical taste of that era. A symmetrically ramped staircase leads to the main floor, featuring a grand hall adorned with an imposing marble basin, a large fireplace lined with ceramics from ancient Piedmontese factories, and a majestic wooden sculpture depicting the Battle of Vienna in 1683.
ESPLORARE LA CHIOCCIOLA
PASSEGGIATA ATTRAVERSO L’ARTE, LA STORIA E LA CULTURA DI CHIERI
Start and finish at Piazza Europa Parking – Chieri.
Length 3.5 km
Tourist Difficulty
Start from Piazza Europa, walking along the side adjacent to the wall of the Salesian Institute San Luigi, heading towards the wall remains of the ancient Rocchetta Fort. Just before the bastions, descend along the pedestrian passage, cross the Piazzetta Brigata Alpina Taurinense and then turn left onto Via Vittorio Emanuele II. Pass on the left the Church of St. Margherita, the Oratory of San Luigi, and the Chapel of the Holy Cross to reach the Convent of San Domenico (church entrance on Via San Donato, cloister entrance on Via della Gualderia). Continue on Via V. Emanuele II and turn right after 50 meters into Via della Pace, where at number 8 is the Jewish Ghetto. Retrace your steps and resume on the right onto Via V. Emanuele to first reach the former Convent of San Filippo Neri (which houses the Don Bosco Visitor Center and the StArt Gallery) and the adjacent Baroque Church of San Filippo, and then the Arco di Piazza . After passing the Arch (Piazza Umberto I), take Via Carlo Alberto on the right and reach Piazza Mazzini, then continue on the left into Via San Giorgio. Just before the two beautiful buildings facing the street (Palazzo Opesso and Palazzo Valfrè), ascend to the right along Via Giacomo Nel to reach the Church of San Giorgio (1.950 km from the start) located on the hill where the medieval castrum stood as a defense for Chieri. Descend to the left of the church and follow Via S. Giorgio to house number 17, then go down a staircase that leads to Via Diverio, following it to Piazza Cavour (Church of San Bernardino, Church of Sant’Antonio). Cross the square and Via Vittorio Emanuele II, to continue on Via Palazzo di Città. In front of the Town Hall, turn left onto Via Cottolengo, cross Via Balbo, and reach Piazza Duomo (Cathedral and Baptistery – 2.9 km from the start). After passing the bell tower, take Via XX Settembre and then turn into Via S. Domenico to reach Piazza Umberto I. After passing the Arch, continue on Via V. Emanuele II to the Convent of San Domenico. Then continue straight and then turn right onto Via Roma. Just before the roundabout, turn left to return to Piazza Europa.
StArt gallery (via V. Emanuele II 63, Chieri)
Located in the former Convent of San Filippo, the StArt Gallery – soon to open – is a permanent exhibition that retraces the history of Chieri: ancient history, the Middle Ages and the city in the 15th century, the 16th century, the Baroque and the society of the 18th century, the contemporary age and the textile industry.
