Holiday apartment in Nole – culture, nature and local traditions

Nole between river landscapes and local history

A holiday apartment in Nole is a suitable base for you if nature observation, art, technological history and local traditions are to be part of your trip. The themes range from the Foresta Fossile and historic sacred spaces to festivals that take place every year. This allows you to vary your days and choose between peaceful discoveries, a circular trail and cultural impressions.

Fossil landscape and a protected circular trail

The Foresta Fossile di Nole Canavese is considered one of the most important palaeontological records in the Piedmont region. It lies along the riverbed of the Stura di Lanzo between the municipalities of Nole Canavese and Ciriè and entirely within fluviopalustrine sediments of the Villafranchian sequence. This gives the landscape a natural-history character that clearly distinguishes it from classic visits to local towns.

The Sentiero delle Fontane is a 1.5-kilometre circular trail in the Grange area of Nole. The Sentiero delle Fontane is also a protected area integrated into the Stura di Lanzo Natura 2000 site. The specified length gives you a clear basis for planning your day, while its inclusion in the protected area defines the natural character of this trail.

Church art and technological history

At the Parrocchiale di San Vincenzo Martire, the façade was built in 1823, while the portal was installed in 1905. The Santuario di San Vito Martire houses votive paintings, an 18th-century wooden altar and valuable 17th-century frescoes. In the Cappella di San Grato, the 16th-century Fresco della S. Sindone depicts the Holy Shroud as well as Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy and his son Carlo Emanuele.

Another facet is provided by the Museo comunale delle macchine a vapore “Ing. Francesco Bosio”. It originated from the collection of engineer Francesco Bosio, which his family donated to the municipality. Sacred art and steam engines thus represent two different approaches to Nole: one focuses on works of art and religious history, the other on technical objects and the history of the collection.

Craftsmanship, carnival and fixed dates

From the 19th century until the middle of the 20th century, Nole was known for an important and thriving craft activity: the production of “foët”, or whips, from the wood of the European nettle tree, known in Italian as bagolaro. This tree was widespread in the area and particularly suitable for this purpose. The mask of the Nole Carnival is the “Foaté”, meaning the whip maker, so the former craft activity is also reflected in the local festival tradition.

Two events provide fixed points for planning the year. The Sagra dell'ofela takes place every year on 2 June in Nole. The Sagra Colori e sapori d'autunno is celebrated every year on the second Sunday in October in Nole. Depending on the time of your trip, regional flavours and seasonal traditions can therefore take on a special focus.

Which holiday apartment in Nole suits your travel plans

When choosing a holiday apartment in Nole, it is helpful to start by considering your preferred daily rhythm. The Sentiero delle Fontane and the Foresta Fossile offer natural-history impressions and opportunities for activity, while the Parrocchiale, the Santuario, the Cappella di San Grato and the museum provide cultural points of interest. The two Sagra dates and the Nole Carnival round out this selection with lively local traditions.

If you would like to compare other places for planning your trip, you can find them here: San Francesco Al Campo, Valgioie, San Benigno Canavese, Bruzolo, Locana, Usseglio, Oulx and Exilles.

For the higher-level travel overview: Turin.