Candia and its Park - Sport and Nature

History buffs can dedicate to the reach cultural and artistic heritage of Canavese between medieval castle, churches, abbeys of Romanesque period.
In Candia, surely deserve a visit the church of Santo Stefano that, as well as the cathedral of Ivrea and the abbey Fruttuaria in San Benigno Canavese, is the most important building in the morainic amphitheatre witness of Romanesque architecture in Canavese. There are records of the church dating back to the year 1100 and it is situated on the top of the hill that overlooks Candia.
A beautiful path, with charming views on Candia and its lake, allow to reach the church.

Close to Candia, the castle of Aglié, elegant and imposing, of Masino, immersed in a monumental  romantic park, of Mazzé, neo-gothic style, and of Ivrea with its characteristic “rosse torri”.  

At 15 minutes’ drive, but also very well connected with train from the little Candia station, Ivrea where you can walk in the lively streets of the center or along the river that crossed the town. 

Ivrea is known for its industrial history and to have been the first national factory of typewriter Olivetti. Ivrea currently runs to become Historical Patrimony of the Humanity for the UNESCO as industrial town of 20st century, becoming an open-air museum of modern architecture. To know the buildings that made the history of Olivetti it is possible to visit the museum MAM, which develops on 2 km in the town.

Candia train station is an excellent starting point to reach easily and without traffic, Ivrea squares during the Historic Carnival and the Battle of Oranges, its most awaited moment. In the colored squared of the city center, the teams on foot, that represent the people who arises, challenges in a colored battle with oranges, the horse carts, the arms of the tyrant. 

We should not forget the traditional cuisine and the Canavese DOC wines.

From the gentle hills of Canavese, born excellent wines. Among these the Erbaluce di Caluso, straw-yellow colored with a fin perfumes and dry and fresh taste, and the Caluso Passito, obtained after a natural drying period of grapes. The Canavese Rosso, obtained from vineyard Barbera, Nebbiolo, Neretto and Freisa and the Carema Nebbiolo have also to be taste.

For gourmets, the Canavese offers many typical dishes: the fritto misto Piemontese (ingrédients sweets and salty), the Bagna càuda (anchovy cream), the agnolotti or tajarin (homemade fresh pasta), the bollito misto (boiled meat) with its bagnèt verd, the cabbage soup, the brasato cooked with wine Neretto, civet stewed, the cod with onions, the Tufèja  (beans with pork rind) and soup of Ajucca (mountains natural herb).

Among the desserts, have not be missed the torcetti of Agliè, the nocciolini of Chivasso, the canestrelli of Borgofranco, the paste di meliga and the zabaione with wine Caluso Passito.

The b&b is a very good point of depart for day-excursions to the Gran Paradiso National Park, easily reachable in less than an hour. The Valle dell’Orco, with a typical glacial valley landscape and the Val Soana, straight and fluvial origin, are the two entrance of Piemonte side of the mountains range to discover this wide territory of high mountains, between 800 meters and 4061 meters of the peak of Gran Paradiso.
For mountains lovers, the Park allow numerous activities both in summer than in winter: excursion or relaxing walks between the trees or the alpine lakes, but also cross-country skiing to Alpine skiing, climbing or walk with snowshoes.
“Skiing in Paradise” is the slogan of the Valle dell’Orco and Val Soana winter resorts. Locana, Valprato Soana, Ceresole Reale and Alpette are the four little resorts surrounded by nature where you can practice the more popular winter sports.

At the extreme western end of Canavese, on the Valle dell’Orco, Ceresole Reale allow beautiful walks on pathways or around the lake and many activities as Nordic walking, MTB, trekking, Alta Via Alpina in addition to canoe and windsurf on the lake. After Ceresole Reale is reached the Piano del Nivolet, one of the most interesting alpine plateau, at 2500 meters high. The area is rich in water with numerous lake, nestled into rocks and green grazing.

Going up to higher altitudes, where you can observe the beautiful alpine flora among which rhododendron and edelweiss, it is not unusual to meet chamois, ibexes, eagles and marmots.

The proximity to the Candia rail-station allow a comfortable train connection with Turin. In one hour, without traffic and parking problems, it is possible to arrive at the station of Turin Porta Nuova. In front which starts Via Roma, the street from which you can begin the tour to discover the town.

Strolling in its historic town center, you will be introduced to an extraordinary artistic and cultural heritage. The Egyptian Museum, with the most wide valuable archaeological collections of Europe, the National Museum of Cinema, fitted out inside the Mole Antonelliana tower, the top of which it is possible to enjoy a suggestive scenery of the town nestled between its hills and mountains, Palazzo Madama and Palazzo Reale. Beautiful also the numerous churches to discover in the streets of the centre. Surely deserve a visit the place San Carlo with its twin churches, place Castello and place Vittorio Veneto on the river Po that cross the town.

Close to the center of Turin, on the hill that overlooks the town, the Basilica di Superga with a panorama with a breathtaking view of Turin and the mountains.
Least but not last the tour of Residenze Reali, among which the Reggia di Venaria, an extraordinary  UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We are located less that one hour from the Valle D’Aosta, where you can organize, starting from our b&b, day excursions.

At the entrance of this beautiful region, worth a visit the Forte di Bard and its small ancient village. The fortress is on the Via Francigena that, in the middle age, links Canterbury to Rome. All the area of the fortress are reachable from the village with panoramic lifts. It houses the Museum of Alps and also numerous interesting temporary exhibitions.

Easily reachable from the b&b are the two first valleys at the entrance of Val d’Aosta: the Valle di Gressoney and the Valle di Champorcher.

The Valle di Champorcher is crossed by the river Ayasse, that born from the alpine lake of Miserin at 2580 meters high. The river  is a fisheries reserve for trout and creates deep gorges in the rocks and spectacular waterfalls.
Some areas of the valley are parts of the Natural Park of Monte Avic where there is the most large pine forests of the Valle d’Aosta. From the village of Champorcher, starts many trails for the lakes, peaks and forests of the Park, where live numerous specimens of alpine flora and fauna, some also very rare.
On winter the Champorcher ski resort, part of Monterosa Ski, offers 21 km of ski slopes up to the top at 2500 meters of Cimetta Rossa that offer a large panorama on Monte Cervino and Monte Rosa.

The Valle di Gressoney, named also Valle del Lys, is at the foot of the most high Monte Rosa peaks. The valley is part of the Monterosa Ski Resort. The off-piste and freeraid skiers can spend exciting days on the fresh snow. On summer, numerous trails can be followed in this large territory enjoying an environment of extraordinary beauty.

In one hour and half by train from Candia rail-station, you can reach Aosta, capital of Valle d’Aosta. Little town surrounded by mountains, it is rich in historical, touristic and natural interest. The lively historical center, entirely pedestrian, allow to have a pleasant walk between Romanesque ruins and Medieval vestiges.