From the Eremo dei Camaldolesi to the Cathedral of Chieri, through the road of ancient villas.
Technical Notes
Start: Eremo dei Camaldolesi (621 m)
Arrival: Chieri, piazza del Duomo (283 m)
Distance: 12,2 km
Elevation Gain: 135 m
Difficulty: hiking, slightly undulating path
Refreshments: There are no refreshment options until Pino T.se and then in Chieri.
Water: In Pino T.se, fountains in the Municipio square and in Via dei Colli (picnic area), in Chieri, fountains in Via Tana, Piazza Duomo, and at the Church of S. Domenico.
Description
Leaving behind the Tower (L) heading towards Pino T.se, turn right onto the road adjacent to the Hermitage of the Camaldolese parking. Then descend along the old city walls, continuing straight ahead, ignoring the right turn onto Trail No. 32-GTC. Pass by the beautiful pastures of Cascina Margheria on the right and reach the road of the Hermitage after about 800 meters. Turn right here, following the asphalt for just over 400 meters while being mindful of cars. Ignore the first left turn (Rosero local road) and instead turn left onto Rio Martello Road. The road gently descends until reaching the hamlet of Tetti Rosero. Leave the Chapel of San Michele on the left, disregard the right turn onto Rosero Road, and continue until reaching the sign indicating Via Rosero, which you then take to the left. At the first junction, continue right onto a dirt road that ascends to a wide meadow (Pian Mongino, a panoramic viewpoint), then reach the SP Eremo-Pino T.se. Turn right following the provincial road for 200 meters, then descend (after about 2.1 km from the Cascina Margheria junction) to the right on the other side of the same meadow. Head towards an isolated tree and veer left into the woods on the so-called “Gallo Path” (Alternative route: instead of descending on the Gallo Path, follow trail No. 40 to the left, ascending towards Pino T.se, bypass the right turn leading to the Astronomical Observatory, then arrive at Pino and continue right onto S. Felice Road until intersecting Via Podio). Proceed downhill until reaching the first houses of Pino village, arriving on S. Felice Road. Turn left, travel 200 meters, then turn right onto Via Podio. Continue straight on this road, which traverses the hill ridge, gently descending, offering beautiful panoramic views on both sides: Pecetto T.se on the right, Pavarolo, Montaldo T.se, and Marentino on the left. Once past the Chapel of Podio, continue to the valley floor, passing by a beautiful vineyard and ignoring all deviations (approximately 450 meters downstream of the chapel, the alternative route of this stage joins from the right). Here, at a small pond, turn left onto the dirt road of Strada Moglia, pass the entrance path to Villa Moglia, and after 200 meters, turn left onto Upper Vallero Road. The road ascends, offering a high vantage point to admire Villa Moglia. Pass Villa Bruno (about 2.5 km from the Chapel of Podio) and reach a paved junction behind the Bonafous Institute (800 m from Villa Bruno). Continue straight on the dirt road (beautiful view of Chieri on the left), ignoring the descent to the left, continuing onto Strada della Luigina. After passing Villa Luigina and Villa Brea, intersect SP124 Pecetto T.se-Chieri (approximately 1.5 km from the Bonafous Institute). Turn left and, being cautious of traffic (some stretches without sidewalks), enter Chieri via Viale Cappuccini and then Via Tana, until reaching Cathedral Square (I) (1.5 km from the intersection with the provincial road).
In the Footsteps of Don Bosco
Don Bosco in Chieri
In November 1831, Giovanni Bosco moved to Chieri to attend public schools and later the Seminary, staying as a boarder at Lucia Matta’s house and working as an apprentice, waiter, and stable hand. These were years of sacrifices but also pivotal for his formation: arriving as a sixteen-year-old country boy, he left at twenty-six, spiritually solid and prepared for priesthood. Here, he founded the Society of Joy with other young people, aiming to bring peers closer to prayer and Mass by incorporating magic tricks and acrobatics reminiscent of street performers. In Chieri, he continued his studies until October 1835, then took the exam in Turin to join the seminary, where he completed his studies to become a priest. In the Church of San Domenico, Don Bosco celebrated his third mass after his ordination.
Don Bosco Visitor Center
(Via Vittorio Emanuele II 63, Chieri, Tel. 011/9428342-9428440, info@turismochieri.it) The Don Bosco Visitor Center is entirely dedicated to the saint’s life, particularly his youth spent in Chieri, considered a crucial stage in his religious and cultural formation. The museum path is set up on the first floor of the former San Filippo Seminary in the “Room of the Dream,” where Luigi Comollo, who died prematurely, revealed to Giovanni Bosco that he had been saved. It guides visitors through four different thematic spaces. The first focuses on nineteenth-century Chieri, describing the city context in which young Bosco lived from a historical, cultural, religious, and social perspective. The second delves into the educational and professional environment in which the saint developed. The third space covers the theme of friendship and the Society of Joy. The last stage is entirely dedicated to the years Don Bosco spent in the seminary.
Don Bosco Itinerary in Chieri
(www.turismochieri.it, estimated time: 2 hours and 30 minutes) The itinerary covers all the places linked to the figure of Giovanni Bosco (Viale Fiume-Vicolo Valimberti-Piazza Cavour-Via Palazzo di Città-Via Vittorio Emanuele II No. 47-Piazza Mazzini-Former Archbishop’s Seminary-Duomo-Via della Pace-Church of S. Domenico-Casa Morano).
Don Bosco in Pino T.se
In addition to Don Bosco, the village of Pino T.se saw the passage of St. Giuseppe Agostino Benedetto Cottolengo, founder of the Piccola Casa della Divina Provvidenza, who passed through in April 1842 to die in Chieri at his uncle’s. Furthermore, between 1856 and 1857, two residents of Pino – Carlo Ghivarello and Giuseppe Lazzero – were among the first students of the future saint in Turin and later contributed to the establishment of the Pia Società Salesiana. Moreover, between 1857 and 1870, there were numerous stops in Pino on the road to Chieri during autumn walks, welcomed by the Ghivarello family. However, the sermons of Don Bosco in the Parish Church of Pino were not certain and sufficiently documented, except for the one on June 11, 1865, the Feast of the Holy Trinity.
Map
