Holiday apartment in Rubiana: nature, trails and culture
Accommodation in Rubiana
Rubiana lies in a mountainous amphitheatre on the left bank of the Dora Riparia. The landscape includes chestnut, oak, beech, larch and pine forests, as well as meadows and pastures. When choosing a holiday apartment in Rubiana, you can therefore consider whether you would like to focus your stay mainly on hiking, observing nature, culture or regional specialities.
Holiday apartment in Rubiana for trails steeped in history
Rubiana has a dense network of trails of varying lengths, often with historical or natural-history significance. The historic mule tracks were built with stones set into the ground; some sections have survived to this day. A 4 km trail leads from the Santuario della Madonna della Bassa to Colle del Lys. Partisans used it as an observation route overlooking the entire Susa Valley. The Sentiero della Libertà also connects the Casa del Parco in Favella with Colle del Lys. The different types and lengths of trails provide a practical basis for planning your excursions according to your interests and the scope you prefer.
For mountain hikes, Rocca Sella can be reached from Favella via a ridge trail. Cyclists will also find documented options in Rubiana: the mountain-bike routes include circuits on forest roads and firebreak tracks. One mountain-bike circuit leads from Almese to Madonna della Bassa, runs below the western side of Truc del Faro and can return to Rubiana via the provincial road or mule tracks. This allows hiking and cycling to be included as separate focuses in your personal travel plans.
Nature at Colle del Lys
The Parco Naturale del Colle del Lys combines botanical and zoological features with a striking mountain landscape. Euphorbia gibelliana, a sun-loving species endemic to Piedmont, grows there. In spring, gentians, lilies and orchids bloom in the clearings. The park also provides an important habitat for the courtship displays of black grouse and for the reproduction of numerous insects. Colle della Bassa lies at an altitude of about 1,100 metres on a ridge separating the Vallone del Messa from the Casternone Valley.
Art, museums and churches
Rubiana was first mentioned in written records in 1029, when Margrave Manfredi of Turin and his wife Berta donated this area to the Abbey of San Giusto in Susa. A more recent cultural perspective is offered by Fiabe e Boschi, a cultural project in Rubiana that has created an art gallery spread throughout the area. The Pinacoteca Comunale Francesco Tabusso houses more than one hundred works and aims to reconstruct the artistic panorama of Piedmont in the second half of the 20th century.
Several churches also contribute to the area’s historical diversity. The Chiesa Parrocchiale di Sant'Egidio was rebuilt in 1607 by expanding an existing 16th-century building and was solemnly consecrated in 1769. The Parrocchiale dei Santi Grato e Maria Maddalena in Mompellato was created in 1808 by expanding the chapel of San Grato e Santa Maria Maddalena. The Parrocchiale di San Giuseppe was built towards the end of the 18th century. The museum spread throughout the area comprises a museum site, a tower, the Peace Garden, the mass-grave area and the Sentieri della memoria.
Regional specialities from Rubiana
Rubiana’s acidic soils are particularly well suited to growing soft fruit, especially raspberries. A local culinary speciality is Rubianese, a traditional crisp biscuit whose dough contains Marsala. Tegolino di Favella is a similar rectangular, brown and light biscuit without Marsala. It originated from the need to use raw cake batter. In addition to nature and culture, both baked goods give travel planning a flavourful connection to Rubiana.
Getting there and accessible culture
The Parco Naturale del Colle del Lys can be reached by car from Turin via Pianezza, Alpignano, Almese and Rubiana. There is also a connection from Turin by GTT bus departing from Porta Susa; this service is not available during the winter months. When choosing your holiday apartment in Rubiana, this difference between travelling independently and a seasonally limited bus service may be a relevant planning factor.
The Pinacoteca Comunale Francesco Tabusso is accessible to people with disabilities and can be reached by public transport. Accessible stops are located nearby. It therefore offers a specifically described cultural venue for visitors who take accessibility and public transport into account when planning their trip.
Discover more destinations
If you would like to extend your travel plans beyond Rubiana, you can also explore Bussoleno, Rivarolo Canavese, Borgaro Torinese, Oulx, Lanzo Torinese, Trofarello, Vico Canavese and Settimo Torinese.
To the overview of destinations: Turin.
