Walk along the river, then through the Turin hills to the land of cherries.
Technical Notes
Departure: Turin, piazza Maria Ausiliatrice (Sanctuary of Maria Ausiliatrice, 230 m)
Arrival: Pecetto T.se, piazza Roma (409 m)
Length: km 14,8
Elevation Gain: m 492
Difficulty: hiking, with uphill sections interspersed with brief flat stretches and a final descent
Refreshments: The route in Turin offers many dining and shopping options (especially at Porta Palazzo market) until the Isabella bridge. Later, with a brief detour, to Colle della Maddalena and Pecetto T.se.
Water: Drinking fountains are numerous throughout the city, along the Po River, and in the parks. In Pecetto T.se, fountains in Piazza Roma and Piazza S. Pietro, and a water kiosk near the cemetery.
Description
For the description of the beginning of the route, please refer to Stage 1 of the Low Path. Reach the crossroads shortly after the Fontana Fredda locality (approximately 2.8 km from Parco di San Vito). Here, turn left, ascend until you cross Path no. 12 of the Turin Hills. Turn right, gradually ascend, ignoring the path to the right towards Colle della Maddalena and Faro della Vittoria (GTC Path and Path no. 31), then, at the information panel about the Green Ring, continue straight towards the Eremo dei Camaldolesi (see Stage 1 of the Low Path), then turn right and follow some switchbacks until you reach the GTC-Path no. 31. Turn left and continue on this wide track until you reach the Colle road. Turn right, follow it for about 100 meters, then turn left into the forest at a streetlight along the so-called Bric della Croce road (alternatively: turning right on the track, follow some switchbacks until you reach the uphill path towards Colle della Maddalena and Faro della Vittoria along Viale Col di Lana, Via Piave, Piazzale Gorizia, Viale Bainsizza, and Piazzale Timavo, with a possible rest stop. From Faro, descend on the Colle road by following it to the left for 500 meters, then turn right into the Bric della Croce street. This adds 2 km and 215 meters of elevation gain). This final descent is gradual until you reach the road della Vetta near some houses. Turn right, ignore several deviations (to the left, near a small villa, the path towards Pera del Tesor, Bric San Viter, and the archaeological site of Monspherratus), and descend for 1.8 km until you reach the road to the Eremo, just after a bend offering a beautiful panoramic view of Pecetto. Continue straight (be cautious of traffic, there is no sidewalk) and descend to a church on the left side of the road. Continue straight on Via Umberto I, entering the center of Pecetto and reaching Piazza Roma.
In the Footsteps of Don Bosco
Don Bosco in Pecetto T.se
Don Bosco had close and constant relationships with the theologian Michele Antonio Cinzano, a native of Pecetto and parish priest of Castelnuovo d’Asti from 1834 to 1870. Around 1838, the then seminarian Giovanni Bosco delivered an impromptu sermon in Pecetto Torinese, as described by Don Cinzano:
“All’ora del vespro, non era ancora comparso il panegirista colto da improvvisa malattia. Nessuno de’ sacerdoti presenti volle sostituirlo, dicendo mancar loro il tempo necessario a prepararsi e non osare parlare al pubblico così all’improvviso. Il parroco disse allora al chierico Bosco: – Andate voi! Giovanni chiese allora un breviario, lesse le lezioni del giorno, salì in pulpito e soddisfece così pienamente la popolazione, che alcuni degli uditori, parlando all’indomani col parroco di Castelnuovo, decantavano la bellezza del discorso e l’abilità del predicatore “.
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