ALTO CANAVESE This is the term we locals use for the foothill and mountain area that stretches between Valle Orco and Valle di Lanzo, namely the part of the Alpine arc in Canavese territory located furthest west.

Small villages situated on sunny slopes and in shallow valleys, where it’s not only nature that has shaped the landscape: here, humans have made their mark in modern times!

It’s undeniable: to overlook this would be to forget our industrial vocation and the fact that much of our social fabric is based on work in mechanical companies. And that’s why, along the roads leading to the mountains, you also find views that are truly “less than bucolic”!

You are in what was known as “Italy’s little Ruhr” and now is not only a hub for stamped steel but also for mechanical processes applied to various sectors (automotive, railway, space, etc.).

Here, going to the factory was normal, and it was common to “bring home” additional work, which is why in garages, very often, instead of cars, there were lathes, milling machines, and drills: everything needed to work on the rough parts stamped by hammers. Factories were in mountain areas and stayed there until logistics needs forced them to relocate further down the valley.

Well, now that we’ve taken you along for part of the journey, we can finally tell you that these mountains also offer multiple opportunities for outdoor activities, with kilometers of paths for walking, mountain biking, trekking, and challenging trails, especially those of Monte Soglio. But they are also the ideal place for astronomical observation of the night sky, given the absence of light pollution; it should come as no surprise that here they produce interesting red wines that have much to say.

CANAVESE VILLAGE truly astonishes in every aspect!

It’s up to you to decide which aspect intrigues you the most. Take advantage of a splendid starry night to observe the night sky from the Alpette Astronomical Observatory;

walk the Tabernacoli path in the Special Reserve of Sacro Monte di Belmonte for a day among nature and spirituality;

climb among the daring vineyards of Levone, known as “the village of the Witches,” and enjoy the view from Big Bench No. 175;

discover the ancient stone hamlets of Alta Val Malone, where over 100 km of trails and mule tracks have recently been restored.