Holiday apartment in Rivalba: Castle, Forest and White Truffles

Rivalba combines a medieval castle with its preserved octagonal tower, churches and chapels featuring impressive frescoes, the forests of the Bosco del Vaj and Bosc Grand protected areas, and the National White Truffle Fair. When choosing a holiday apartment in Rivalba, you can decide in advance whether culture, nature or regional tradition should be the focus of your trip.

Castle and churches between the Middle Ages and the 20th century

At the beginning of the year 1000, Bishop Landolfo had a castle built in Rivalba to defend the area. Today, the octagonal tower is all that remains of this medieval castle. The parish church of San Pietro in Vincoli dates from the 12th or 13th century. Despite unfavorable restorations in the 19th century, it still displays notable features of medieval architecture.

The first chapel on the right inside the parish church of San Pietro in Vincoli contains a fresco depicting the miraculous liberation of Saint Peter from prison in Jerusalem. The small chapel of Sant’Amanzio in Rivalba was completely rebuilt in 1917. Inside, it preserves valuable frescoes in the Gothic style from the 14th and 15th centuries, depicting the life of the saint. Sant’Amanzio is also a stop on the San Sebastiano itinerary through the Turin hills and Monferrato.

Forests, northern slopes and paths

Rivalba’s natural side can be seen in the Bosco del Vaj and Bosc Grand protected areas. Forests of sessile oaks (Quercus petraea), field maples (Acer campestre) and chestnut trees grow on the upper and middle northern slopes; beech trees (Fagus sylvatica) are also found occasionally. For those interested in nature, this composition is a concrete reason to pay attention to tree species and slope locations.

Access to the Bosco del Vaj nature reserve is free, but is restricted to designated roads and paths. A forest ridge path runs through Bosco Grand, connecting Bric Cerro with Bric Turniola.

White Truffle Fair as a November event

Rivalba’s White Truffle Fair has been held on the second Sunday in November since 1988 and has been a national fair since 2012. The 38th edition is scheduled for November 8, 2026. For those interested in culture, November 8, 2026 is a specific reason to visit Rivalba as part of the National White Truffle Fair. The fixed November date combines a visit to the fair with regional tradition and gives trip planning for Rivalba a clear focus on the calendar.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Rivalba, you can align your preferred travel rhythm with these themes: church art, forests and paths, or the White Truffle Fair in November. This keeps the accommodation aligned with your travel plans, whether you want to discover historical details with your family, observe nature or experience regional tradition.

More places for planning your trip

Piverone, San Raffaele, Barbania, Caselle Torinese, Pont Canavese, Brusasco, San Giuseppe and Nichelino.

To the higher-level travel overview: Turin.