Ivrea

Between history and nature, in the heart of Canavese

Ivrea lies along the Dorea Baltea and is considered the centre of Canavese. The village is located 50 kilometres from Turin, along the road leading to Valle D'Aosta, on the ancient Via Francigena. In the old town, where the traditional “Battle of the Oranges” is held every year at Carnival, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, built on the remains of a Roman temple, is worth a visit. A few steps away is the Bishop's Palace and the medieval tower known as the “Torrione del Vescovo”. Not to be missed is Ivrea Castle, a fortress built by Amedeo VI of Savoy in the 15th century, now an exhibition venue. Inextricably linked with the history of Olivetti, the city hosts the Laboratorio-Museo Tecnologic@mente where many specimens of calculators, typewriters and personal computers are on display. 

A ten-minute drive away is the forested area of the Five Lakes. The best known is the swimmable Lake Sirio. A network of paths connects it to the other lakes: Lake Nero, Lake Cascinette, Lake San Michele and Lake Pistono. Where Lake Coniglio once stood arethe so-called Terre Ballerine-Dancing Lands, so called because as you walk through them, the pressure of the footsteps makes the shrubs that grow there tremble.

Lastly, we recommend the 16th-century Masino Castle, now a FAI property, surrounded by an immense park where the historic “Three Days for the Garden” horticultural exhibition-market is held twice a year.