Holiday apartment in Pavarolo: Art, Hills and History

Historic Pavarolo between Tower, Church and Castello

The Castello di Pavarolo is first mentioned in a document issued by Emperor Henry III in 1047. Originally, it served as a military base and was later converted into an aristocratic residence; today, it is privately owned. Its history therefore reaches far back, while the surviving furnishings offer a special glimpse into the town's past.

The Torre di Pavarolo, an old bell tower, stands in the historic town center between the parish church and the castle. The Torre stands free of the surrounding buildings and has a passageway through its ground floor. Immediately beside it is the parish church of Santa Maria dell'Olmo, a three-nave building. Several prominent buildings are thus located within a closely defined historic setting.

The Castello contains a painted ensemble of coffered ceilings attributed to the Maestro di Montiglio and dated to 1350/1360. There are also walls with Anglo-Florentine neo-Gothic decorations. The ceiling is considered one of the oldest and best-preserved in Piedmont. The Cappella di San Defendente houses votive offerings from local residents, including around fifty picture panels depicting the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The oldest surviving example dates from 1728.

Discover Art: Casorati Walking Route and Museum

The Casorati walking route runs at the foot of the Torre di Pavarolo. Six works by the Casorati family have been reproduced on glass and displayed along the local streets. Numerous mosaics can also be found there as testimony to the historic “Felice Casorati a Pavarolo” painting biennials. Art therefore appears not only in an interior space, but also as part of the townscape.

The Studio Museo Felice Casorati opened to the public on October 22, 2016, with an exhibition of lithographs by Felice Casorati curated by Francesco Poli. Since the studio was converted into a museum, various exhibitions have been held there every year, bringing artists into dialogue with Felice Casorati's art. For culturally minded days out, Pavarolo therefore offers a clear focal point that can be combined with walks through the town.

Botanical Route and Landscape

The Giardino degli Artisti is a botanical route for all age groups that highlights plants and landscapes. It is located near the Studio Museo Felice Casorati at a viewpoint of great landscape value. Please note for visits: On the days when the Museo-Studio Casorati is open, the route is freely accessible; guided tours take place throughout the year by reservation.

The municipality of Pavarolo includes cultivated fields, deciduous forests, meadows and vineyards. In the more rugged, hilly areas, remnants of the forests that covered a significant part of the municipality until not so long ago have also been preserved. This combination of open spaces, vineyards and wooded slopes shapes the landscape character and leaves room for quieter days of discovery between culture and nature.

Routes for Different Hiking Days

The high route of the Cammino Don Bosco follows the Superga–Crea route and passes through Bric Croce, Pavarolo, Bardassano, Sciolze and Cinzano. The intermediate route is called Lago di Arignano: it follows the high route as far as Bric Croce and then continues via Baldissero Torinese, Pavarolo, Montaldo, Marentino and Arignano. The different routes help you choose between various landscape and cultural highlights when planning your trip, without limiting Pavarolo to just one type of travel.

The center of Pavarolo can be reached from Baldissero, Cordova and Bardassano. When choosing a holiday apartment in Pavarolo, you can therefore pay particular attention to whether your holiday should be shaped primarily by the historic sights in the town, the botanical and landscape themes, or the stages of the Cammino Don Bosco. This allows you to align your choice of accommodation sensibly with your own daily plans.

Brigna Purin-a and Festivals Throughout the Year

The Brigna Purin-a from Pavarolo is also known as Prugna di San Giovanni. It is a small, wine-colored, sweet plum. The Sagra della Brigna Purin-a is dedicated to it and takes place in the last ten days of June. The Festa patronale di San Secondo is celebrated on the last weekend of August. Anyone who would like to experience regional traditions in addition to art and landscapes will therefore find two different dates in the events calendar.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

If you would like to extend your discoveries beyond Pavarolo, you will find more destinations here: Torre Pellice, Cumiana, Chieri, Banchette, Germagnano, Sparone, Oulx and Candiolo.

To the higher-level travel overview: Turin.