Holiday apartment in Azeglio: Lake Viverone, nature and history
Accommodation in Azeglio
Azeglio lies in a landscape where the moraine hills of the Serra gently close in a ring around Lake Viverone along the access road. This transition between the lakeshore, forest and hilly surroundings shapes the first impressions and opens up various ways to discover the area.
File:Lago di Viverone, view from Azeglio, Italy.jpg
Photo: Alessandro Actis via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Lakeshore, nature trail and traditional crafts
On the shore of Lake Viverone, within the municipal territory of Azeglio, there is a pile-dwelling landing stage in a Site of Community Importance (SCI). A reconstructed pile-dwelling landing stage has also been built in the hamlet of Boscarina, recalling the prehistoric archaeological site on Lake Viverone. Near the landing stage there is a birdwatching tower, accessible via a connecting path, which is used to observe the surrounding landscape, particularly the birds found there.
The Sentiero della lesca is part of the Ecomuseo dei Seggiolai e delle Impagliatrici. The nature trail leads through the forest and along the Azeglio shore of Lake Viverone; there, the lake grass used for chair weaving can be observed. In the centre of Azeglio, the Ecomuseum displays tools used in traditional chairmaking and traditional chair weaving.
Churches and religious heritage
The parish church of San Martino Vescovo was designed in 1793 and combines several different architectural styles. Its organ was built in 1821 by the Serassi brothers from Bergamo. The Cappella di Sant’Anna at the foot of the town dates from the 16th century and preserves a blue-and-gold wooden altar from the 17th century, carved with scenes from the life of Christ. The Santuario di Sant’Antonio Abate was built in the 12th century for pilgrims travelling along the Via Francigena.
Castles, towers and squares
Il Castellazzo is the oldest surviving structure in the municipality of Azeglio. The building dates from before the year 1000, was the residence of Azeglio’s first feudal lords and served as a defensive fortress in times of war. The origins of the Castello dei Conti d'Harcourt date back to the end of the 13th century. The Torre campanaria is 52 metres high and is among the tallest bell towers in Canavese.
The Palazzo Municipale on Piazza Massimo d'Azeglio was completed in 1860; the building has a neoclassical façade with a columned portico at the front. The square also features a bronze bust by the sculptor Davide Calandra, unveiled in 1896.
Excursions in the wider area
Near Azeglio is the Castello e Parco di Masino, a castle. The Castello Di Roppolo, also a castle, is located in the surrounding area of Azeglio. The area is also home to the Giusiana Palace, a palace, and the Museo Civico Pier Alessandro Garda, a museum. Further afield in the region are the Porta della Torrazza, a natural arch, and the mountains Monte Muanda, Colma di Mombarone and Punta Tre Vescovi.
When choosing your holiday apartment in Azeglio, you can weigh these highlights against one another: the lakeshore combines nature observation with the history of the pile dwellings, the town centre leads to traditional crafts, squares and churches, while the castles and the wider regional area offer additional destinations for days of cultural interest. The history of chairmaking in Azeglio dates from the second half of the 19th century to the 1960s. Chairs made in Azeglio were exported to and valued in several countries, including the United States of America.
Further places for planning your trip
Pinerolo, Pavarolo, Rubiana, Pragelato, Sestriere, Carignano, Villar Focchiardo, Prali
To the main travel overview: Turin.
