Urban Trekking In The Little Towns Of Piedmont
The unique charm and beauty of the little towns of Piedmont. Falling in love with the real Italy
Urban trekking is the art of exploring a city on foot, immersing oneself in its culture, history, and hidden gems. It is about wandering through bustling streets, quaint alleyways, and charming neighborhoods, allowing the city to unfold its stories and secrets at every turn. In the picturesque little towns of Piedmont, urban trekking takes on a magical quality, as ancient cobblestone streets lead to medieval squares adorned with historic buildings and lively cafés. Each step is a discovery, each corner turned into a new adventure waiting to be uncovered.
As you meander through the narrow streets of these charming towns, you find yourself enveloped in the rich tapestry of Italian life. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the scent of freshly baked bread from local bakeries, while the sound of church bells fills the air, marking the passage of time in a place where history is ever-present. Urban trekking in Piedmont is a sensory experience, where the town's sights, sounds, and flavors come together to create a vibrant and unforgettable journey.
With each stride, you feel a connection to the heart and soul of the town, as its residents go about their daily lives, welcoming you with warm smiles and friendly greetings. Urban trekking in Piedmont is not just about walking; it is about immersing yourself in the town's rhythm, embracing its traditions, and forging a bond with its people. It is a journey of exploration and discovery, where every step brings you closer to the essence of these little towns and leaves an indelible mark on your heart.
Many cities in Italy have tourist information offices. In these places, there are maps of the towns, brochures, and flyers that tell about events, and interesting places to visit in this area. This information is generally free. I always collect everything that may be fascinating, and sometimes purchase hiking trail maps.
A few days ago I visited a city not far from Turin. It's called Chivasso. I knew there were some interesting things because I had their town map with a list of the intriguing places to visit. I was sure I needed only 2–3 hours for this round walk (the little towns are really little :-) in Italy) and decided to go there.
The Prehistoric Stele of Chivasso
This stone is basically what interested me in this city. Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta are very rich in prehistoric finds, which you will hardly find in other areas of Italy. Among the others, these finds show a very active life not only locally, but also in exchanges with truly remote areas of the earth.
In Chivasso you can see one of three prehistoric funerary monuments in the form of a 4-meter-high stele. There are similar stones finely worked and polished in other towns, indicating a shared culture in Piedmont in the 7th century before Christ.
Another interesting thing from the history of this stone is that in the Middle Ages, they used it as a pillory, that is, to tie up insolvent debtors. They were without pants and had to clap their buttocks against the stone.
Similar punishment posts still exist in many Italian cities. They can be monumental columns or fountains. The documents left us records regarding this type of execution.
“New Time Clock” of the French Revolution
In this photo, we see a much rarer “artifact”. At least, I've seen maybe three of them. This is a reminder of the French Revolution of 1793. The National Convention on 24 November 1793 introduced a new calendar to commemorate the Monarchy's end and the Republic's birth. You've probably heard the new month’s names like Pratile, Messidoro, Termidoro e Fruttidoro.
As you can see, there was also a “New Time clock” (I did not know about it before) which divided the day into only 10 hours instead of 24. Every hour had 100 minutes, and each minute had 100 seconds.
The Longest River in Italy
My next stop was a small park near the Po River. This is perhaps the most famous and certainly the longest river in Italy, 632 kilometers, which can be up to 4 kilometers wide. I was curious to know if it was also the largest or deepest, but strangely I didn't find the precise information. It would seem that the city of Turin should be the most studied from all points of view including the river, but one says that the depth of the river here are 4 meters, the other speaks of 2 meters. However, you get to 10 meters near the mouth.
One thing is certain: the (strange) name comes from the Latin Padus and this is why the plain where it passes is called the Padana Valley in Italian. Nobody knows why it is called so. If we go back to talking about prehistory, the name given to the river by the Celtic-Ligurians was Bodinkòs or Bodenkùs which seems to mean “deep”. But this is our presumption.
Between 1863 and 1866 a canal was built to water the rice fields in the provinces of Vercelli and Novara. The canal is 85 kilometers long and the building at the mouth of the canal is still functioning. Imagine working to create a work like this in just three years!
After leaving the park I returned to the historic center where there is another jewel: one of the major Gothic monuments in the region, the cathedral. I’ve just written about it here: One Of The Greatest Examples Of Gothic Architecture In Piedmont
This church (which is “technically” not the cathedral but is called that by everyone) was built in the 15th century by the Marquis of Monferrato near his castle. Only a tower remains from this castle, which was built in 1178 (the upper part is new).
It's a pity because the tower is very different from other similar constructions I've seen before. Unfortunately, I already had to go back to the station to catch the train and I didn't explore it further. But I would like to return, but first, control if the tower can be visited inside. Perhaps, they open it for visits in the summer.
PS — the tower is closed. Inside it is filled with debris.
