Holiday apartment in Manta: Castello, churches and hill trails

Manta between castle culture and hill trails

Manta’s historic character is not reflected in a single building. Alongside Castello della Manta, the town is home to the Torre Civica, the Mulino di San Rocco and several religious buildings. The municipal routes “Passeggiando per Manta” complement this historical selection with the surrounding hills.

Castello della Manta and the Sala Baronale

In the 15th century, Castello della Manta was transformed from a fortress into a noble residence. The Sala Baronale contains the cycle of the Nine Worthies and Nine Heroines, as well as the depiction of the Fountain of Youth. For those interested in culture, the focus therefore extends from the Castello’s pictorial themes to Manta’s religious and technical structures.

Santa Maria del Monastero

Santa Maria del Monastero was Manta’s first place of worship and is one of the oldest Christian monuments in southwestern Piedmont. The two churches point to different periods: the architectural features of Santa Maria del Monastero date the building to the final decades of the 11th century, while the structure of the apse and the pointed-arch windows of the Santuario di San Leone Magno indicate construction in the 12th century.

Other religious buildings and the baptismal font

The Chiesa di San Giacomo is a chapel on the summit of a hill, on the hill’s final slope. The baptismal font, Il Fonte Battesimale, is shaped like an octagonal chalice. Both details complement the churches’ historical classification with a specific location and a clearly recognizable form.

Torre Civica: watchtower and bell tower

The Torre Civica was a watchtower and part of the walls of the medieval Ricetto. In the late 19th century, it was converted into a bell tower with a large clock. Its history thus brings together the fortifications of the Ricetto and the later tower form with its clock.

Hydraulic technology at the Mulino di San Rocco

The external hydraulic technology at the Mulino di San Rocco is still visible today. It includes the water wheel, the “balconera” and the sluice gates of the supply channel. These technical details are located on the outside of the mill and complement the historic buildings with a different theme.

“Passeggiando per Manta” and the Monviso backdrop

The municipal routes “Passeggiando per Manta” include shady paths on the hill and cool fountains. Shady paths and cool fountains provide concrete reference points when planning a day on the hill.

The municipal routes pass through the plain, from which the castle appears against the backdrop of Monviso. In this way, the landscape of the paths is combined with views of the castle and the mountain in the background.

Train connections to Manta

Manta railway station is connected to Torino Porta Nuova and Torino Porta Susa by regional trains, including SFM Line 7, as well as by fast regional trains towards Cuneo, with a change in Savigliano.

For travelling by train, the two Turin stations, SFM Line 7, the direction towards Cuneo and the change in Savigliano are therefore the key points of reference.

Other destinations: Saliceto, Cossano Belbo, Busca, Pradleves, La Morra, Barolo, Castellar, Miroglio.

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