PIEDMONT, BETWEEN SACRI MONTI AND INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY

29/04/2024 - 31/12/2025
4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS
Agliè
Cultural

Description

Two neighboring areas of Piemonte, Canavese and Biellese, which share spirituality and dedication to work. Their history has maintained the sites of the spirit intact and seen the birth of some of the most important manufacturing and industrial companies worldwide over the last century.


Program

Day 1

In the morning, arrive at the Ducal Castle of Agliè for a guided tour of the prestigious Savoy residence, built in the 12th century for the comital family of San Martino, originally from the Canavese area.
In the early afternoon, transfer to farmhouse and check-in.
At 6 pm, following the local tradition, merenda sinora in a typical craft brewery. Enjoy beers matched with a selection of cheeses from the Canavese valleys.
Return to the accommodation facility and overnight.

Day 2

Following breakfast based on local products, transfer to the Sacred Mount of Belmonte. Facing onto the vast panorama of the Turin plain and the Alpine glimpses of the Canavese, it is the most recent of the Sacred Mounts of Piedmont included in the UNESCO site dating back to
the 11th century.
The construction of a new route to illustrate the passion of Christ was designed by a Franciscan friar on his return from the Holy Land. The chapels were completed around 1825. The realism of the characters is so effective and engaging as to justify the acts of vandalism carried out until a few decades ago by those who pelted the figures of the villains with stones. The 13 chapels are located along a circular route in a natural lush environment among century-old oaks and chestnut trees. The area is full of historical testimonies of the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age, of Romanesque and the Lombard phase documented by the remains of a fortified village emerged among the chapels. In the afternoon, return to the armhouse for dinner and
overnight.

Day 3

After breakfast vacate the rooms and transfer to Biella for the guided tour of the city. Il Piazzo, namely the medieval village which forms the high part of Biella is considered the heart of the city and home to the Town Hall until the 19th century where typically medieval architectural signs can be admired such as piazza Cisterna and the 13th century Church of San Giacomo. The village is connected with the rest of the city by numerous medieval climbs but it can be reached more comfortably using the cable car. The history of the city owes its transformation to the 19th century. The tradition of the wool farmers dates back to the mid 1200 in 1849 along the banks of the River Cervo, Massimo Sella purchased a building at the bridge of Chiavazza which already hosted a paper mill and transferred there his woolen mill where Pietro Spalla already in 1816 had introduced the innovation of the hydraulic wheel to activate the looms. With the introduction of new mechanical looms comes the first modern woolen mill and the industrialization is slowly completed during the century.
Lunch in the area of Il Piazzo to enjoy the typical recipe of polenta concia accompanied by one of the local wines and to finish taste the local canestrelli biscuits.
In the afternoon transfer to the nature reserve of the Park of Burcina to walk in this natural reserve protected created by Felice Pazienza, known industrialist of the wool sector enthusiastic of botany who in the first half of the 19th century built this green area of inspiration English having also a spectacular conca of rhododendrons between trails, roads and lanes, Check in to four star hotel and overnight.

Day 4

After breakfast, visit the Cittadellearte Fondazione Pistoletto, an exhibition space inside an abandoned factory (former Trombetta woolen mill), an industrial archaeology complex. This space is home to a large number of works by the well-known artist Michelangelo Pistoletto who is internationally acclaimed for pieces such as "Venere degli stracci", "quadri specchianti" and "terzo paradiso".

In the early afternoon, visit the outlet villages of the area where you can purchase garments made from the best wool and cashmere fabrics, excellence of this area, such as the same fabrics still exported with great success today around the world.

Rates / Supplements

Price per person from:

€ 492,00 (groups of 2 pax)

The price includes:

4 nights with breakfast, visits and admissions and meals as set out in the program, medical policy, assistance and consulting.

Other

Holiday formula:

Families, Groups, Individuals

Guided tour:

No, on request (with supplement)

Info