Holiday apartment in Garessio: Culture, mountain trails and traditions

Garessio combines historical heritage, spiritual traditions and paths into the mountain landscape.

Culture and architectural history in Garessio

The cultural side of Garessio ranges from individual buildings to material history. The Confraternita di San Giovanni was built in the second half of the 16th century and completed in 1593. Since 1962, the old Santuario della Beata Vergine delle Grazie has housed a historical votive museum. The archaeological section of the Museo Civico di Garessio explores production cycles from prehistoric and historical periods. The Museo Civico di Garessio displays artefacts made of stone, fired clay, glass and iron and explains the production techniques used for them from prehistoric times to the end of antiquity.

Santa Maria Extra Moenia also reaches far back into the past: the first building was constructed around the year 1000. A Gothic portal, several columns from the interior naves and a few traces of medieval painting have been preserved.

Castles, gates and medieval traces

Castello di Casotto began as a Carthusian monastery and was founded in the 11th century. In the 19th century, it was purchased by the House of Savoy and converted into a hunting lodge. Access to Castello di Casotto is permitted only as part of a guided tour. The ruins of Castello di Garessio are believed to date from the 12th century. Another trace of the town’s history is Porta Rose: it was an entrance to the old district of Garessio, which could be reached via a drawbridge between two towers; one of the towers is still visible.

Historic paths and spiritual traditions

Several paths combine exercise with history. A path with several hairpin bends leads from the last houses of Garessio to the old entrance gate of the castle walls and to a grassy area surrounded by ancient walls. The Strada del San Mauro follows the Rio San Mauro, leads out of the medieval Ricetto through the Porta Jhape and climbs to Colle San Bernardo. The walking path to Pieve di San Costanzo passes the ruins of a Romanesque church from the 11th century.

Religious traditions also shape the experience. On 1 May, all the parishes of Alta Val Tanaro take part in a pilgrimage on foot to the sanctuary. The Mortorio is repeated approximately every four years and has shaped Garessio’s Easter tradition since around the middle of the 18th century.

Bric Mindino, waterfall and winter sports

For active days, Bric Mindino offers a distinctive high point. The path to the summit reaches 1,879 metres; a monumental iron cross stands there, and the view extends all around to the horizon. A waterfall surrounded by greenery in the valley can be reached via a pleasant walk of approximately half an hour. In winter, Garessio 2000 adds to the options: the ski resort has 12 kilometres of ski slopes of varying difficulty.

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To the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.