Holiday apartment in Roata: Chapels, Forest and Pilgrimage Routes

Roata amid Cultural Traces and Woodland Landscape

If you are planning a stay in a holiday apartment in Roata, you can get to know the area through three tangible perspectives: medieval buildings, pilgrimage connections and a landscape shaped by woodland. In the municipality of Niella Tanaro, 759 hectares are covered by forest; the Tanaro forms the municipality’s northeastern boundary there. This combination is well suited to days that alternate between observing nature and exploring culture.

Medieval Buildings and Artistic Chapels

In Niella Tanaro, the medieval castle includes preserved remains from the 11th century, including a square tower. Another historic feature is the Confraternita dei Disciplinanti S. Antonio Abate. The medieval religious building preserves frescoes from the 15th and 16th centuries.

The Cappella di Sant’Anna brings together several periods: its frescoes from 1478 depict the miracle of the hanged man, a legend of Saint James the Greater. The present-day building and its façade date from the 18th century. The Cappella di S.Rocco di Niella contains preserved fragments of 16th-century frescoes depicting the Annunciation, the Madonna and Child, and saints.

Pilgrimage Connections and Church Trail

The Cappella di S.Rocco di Niella lies along a route used by medieval pilgrims travelling to Santiago de Compostela. The Cappella di Sant’Anna is connected with a pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela that ran through the Niella area along the Tanaro and in the footsteps of a Roman road. S.Rocco is also located near the Fondovalle Tanaro, which connects Bra with Lesegno.

The church trail of Niella Tanaro includes the Cappella di San Bernardo at the intersection with Via Poggio. The Cappella della Natività della Vergine is the final church on the trail and is located in the hamlet of Roà Soprana. In Roà Sottana, the present-day chapel was built from a votive pillar; its origin is commemorated by a foundation stone dated 1700.

Routes for Active Days on Holiday

The Niella Tanaro section of the Sentiero Landandè is the main focus for planning your activities: it can begin in S. Grato di Vicoforte, S. Teobaldo di Niella or at the parish church of Niella. The Landandè trail map is available online and can be printed. This allows you to compare the three starting points in advance and fit them into your own daily plans. The route themes appeal to both hiking and cycling enthusiasts.

A Bread Tradition with an Unusual Record Story

Food culture also offers a distinctive perspective. A bread-baking tradition developed in Niella Tanaro after many residents emigrated to the south of France, particularly Nice, where they worked as bakers. On 3 August 1980, Niella Tanaro set the Guinness World Record for the longest filled sandwich with a 304.12-metre-long filled sandwich.

For your days in Roata, you can choose different focuses: Would you like to combine medieval buildings and chapels, follow the pilgrimage connections, or give greater weight to the forest and route themes?

For further destinations to help with orientation, you can look at Farigliano, Isasca, Costigliole Saluzzo, Gorzegno, Robilante, Garessio, Camo and Rodello.

For the overarching travel overview: Cuneo.