From the Ricetto to the Hidden Tower

A walk through the history of Palazzo Canavese

"From the Ricetto to the Hidden Tower" is the cultural event through which the Ricetto Palazzo Canavese Association invites residents and visitors to rediscover the most authentic soul of the town. Palazzo Canavese is a small municipality of about nine hundred inhabitants lying at the foot of the Serra morainic hills, in the Province of Turin and just a few kilometers from Lake Viverone, in the heart of the Canavese region. The guided, free-of-charge route combines evidence of the medieval past with the naturalistic vistas that characterize this corner of Piedmont.

The medieval ricetto and the Great Tower

The heart of the visit is the ancient ricetto, a typical Piedmontese defensive structure: a cluster of houses enclosed by walls where rural inhabitants would take refuge in times of danger and store the community's goods. In Palazzo Canavese, one cell of the ricetto has been restored to its original function as a shelter and is now furnished with a hearth, period furniture, and historical objects. From here, the path leads to the Great Tower, the only surviving element of the ancient feudal castle, which has served as a bell tower since 1825.

Churches, museums, and the Via Francigena

Along the itinerary, you will encounter the Church of San Genesio, named after the Roman mime, actor, and martyr of the 3rd century and patron saint of the town, as well as the Museum of Peasant Civilization, housed within an authentic dwelling unit of the fortified site. The tour also includes the Eucharistic rose window, the ancient washhouse, and traces of the Via Francigena that crosses the territory, bearing witness to a historical, religious, and rural heritage of great value.

An event to promote the territory

The event is part of the ongoing promotion work that the Ricetto Association and the community of Palazzo Canavese have been carrying out for years, with itineraries, guided tours, and cultural initiatives designed to showcase the "unveiled antiquities" of the village. "From the Ricetto to the Hidden Tower" is a simple and authentic opportunity to immerse yourself in Canavese tradition, walking through history, landscape, and local identity.