Holiday apartment in Montanaro: discover churches, history and Canestrelli

Montanaro is a destination for anyone wishing to combine architectural history, religious art, local traditions and regional specialities during their stay. You can search for a holiday apartment in Montanaro to suit your preferred daily rhythm: the main attractions are historic churches, the Museo Giovanni Cena, the distinctive Carità tradition and culturally inspired impressions of the Canavese.

Churches with unusual details

The present-day Chiesa di San Giovanni Decollato e di Santa Marta was built between 1744 and 1748 in place of a 14th-century oratory belonging to the Confraternita dei Laici Disciplinati. The Chiesa di Santa Marta has a rare interior with two apses and oval windows in both apses. For your orientation, it is important to note that access to the Chiesa di Santa Marta involves several steps.

The parish church of San Nicolao e dell'Assunta is also worth seeing for its architecture. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross; the single-nave interior is complemented by eight side chapels. The present organ was reconstructed in 1872 and was made by the organ builder Vegezzi Bossi. This allows you to consider the layout, furnishings and musical history of a church building together.

Early history and Baroque settings

Access to the Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta is convenient for people with disabilities. The Chiesa di Santa Maria d'Isola also reaches far back into Montanaro's history: after 1006, its construction was the first work undertaken by the monks of Fruttuaria Abbey, and it was Montanaro's first parish church. Its bell tower was built in several successive construction phases in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries.

Architecturally, Santa Maria d'Isola also represents the transition from Renaissance Mannerism to the Baroque. Another striking setting is the abbey complex by Bernardo Antonio Vittone, which as a whole offers an impressive Baroque scene. The Castello di Montanaro adds to these historical motifs: in 1164, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa granted it as a fief to Marquess Guglielmo IV of Monferrato.

Museum and regional memory

The Museo Giovanni Cena presents the writer's biography through 80 historical photographs and displays documents and personal belongings. During a guided tour, visitors reflect on the socioeconomic conditions and the history of Italy from the second half of the 19th century through the first two decades of the 20th century. This makes the museum visit particularly interesting if you would like to connect an individual life story with broader social developments.

The Carità tradition of Borgo Loreto

You encounter a distinctive local tradition at the festival of Cantone Loreto. There, the “CARITA'” are carried in a procession: light, approximately one-metre-high willow pyramids covered with white silk and decorated with numerous colourful artificial flowers. The Carità tradition of Borgo Loreto originated around 1500, was revived in 1974 and became a symbol of Borgo Loreto. Its long development combines a historical origin with a later revival.

Churches, cycling theme and Canestrelli

For cycling enthusiasts, Route M in Montanaro highlights the church complex of San Nicolao and Santa Marta. Sacred architecture thus appears not only as an individual sightseeing destination, but also as part of a themed cycling experience. The regional flavour is represented by Canestrelli: thin traditional sweets from the Canavese with a light lattice pattern and various flavourings.

When searching for a holiday apartment in Montanaro, you can therefore consider which focus should shape your stay. Anyone wishing to take time for churches, the museum and local history will plan differently from someone taking up Route M as a cycling-themed activity. The Carità tradition and Canestrelli complement these cultural impressions with lively and culinary facets. This creates a varied stay from individual discoveries, without requiring you to commit to just one travel idea.

More travel destinations

Vidracco, Chivasso, Ceresole Reale, Brusasco, Pianezza, Pralormo, Salbertrand and Pino Torinese

For the higher-level travel overview: Turin.