The magic of a land to be discovered

Turin, Venaria Reale, the Lanzo Valleys, the Susa Valley, the National Park of the Gran Paradiso, the Canavese. A crown of beauties surrounds "Le Rondini" Hotel. All of them are at a short distance: all easy to reach and enjoyable in a single day. Just take a map of Piedmont and start to travel with your fantasy. Then, once you are here, ask the staff of the Hotel: you will get the best information about the most impressive spots to visit for an unforgettable holiday. And we already know that you will come back again... because a lifetime wouldn't be sufficient for exploring all the beauties of these lands.

Turin, the region and province capital is one of the main cities in Italy and it stretches on the left from the high flow of the river Po. Elegant and refined, Turin matches harmoniously the strict geometry of its urban lay-out with a sophisticated architecture - now baroque, now of the eighteenth century - of its buildings. Among its main monuments we recall the "Mole Antonelliana", the Royal Palace, the "Porte Palatine", the "Basilica" of Superga, "Palazzo Madama" and "Palazzo Carignano". Besides, it has many museums to show; among others: the Egyptian museum, the Royal Armoury; the museum of the Mountain. And there is still more, because Turin is made also of its streets, of its numerous spots rich of history and of its porches under which many great figures of the past used to walk. Turin, ever since known as the "lounge city", seems to be made for walking quietly along its avenues, admiring, in the old city centre, its various, ancient and elegant restaurants and cafés maintained with great care. Turin, with its squares among the most elegant in Europe: vast and majestic as Piazza Castello and Piazza Vittorio Veneto; stylish and sumptuous as Piazza San Carlo; picturesque and unexpected as Piazza Carlo Felice; magnificent and intimate as Piazza Carignano and Piazza Carlo Alberto. Furthermore, Turin, with its numerous parks and gardens, its long boulevards, its green areas along the Po and along its three tributaries (Dora Riparia, Stura e Sangone), is one of the greenest towns in Italy.

And the great Po, which flows quietly between its high banks, offers here and there many enchanting views. Finally, at the gates of the town, it is worth visiting the "Parco della Mandria", the ancient hunting reserve of the Savoia royal family, which extends from the gardens of the Royal Palace of "Venaria Reale" until the first slopes of the Alps.

The "Canavese" is an integral part of the great province of Turin but this land is a little world of its own, very different from the capital, both from the panoramical and from the cultural point of view.

A land of sweet hills, lakes and castles but also with high peaks and natural parks, the "Canavese" is located north-east of Turin and takes its name from the ancient city of "Canava" which lies along the torrent "Orco".

The most important centre of this area is "Ivrea", a town with Celtic origin and then a Roman colony, "Eporedia", from which comes the name of its inhabitants: "Eporediesi"  It has been the capital of a Longobard duchy and of a Frank county, and became very important under Arduino King of Italy between 1000 and 1015. In the nearby of the Castle square, there soar the "Duomo" and the Episcopal seminary which was built from a project of Filippo Juvarra.

The Lake of Viverone, west of Ivrea, is a typical stopover for the lovers of nature. Quite near lies the built-up area of Agliè, an ancient medieval village where one can visit the baroque church of Santa Marta and the"Savoia" ducal castle.

From there, one can reach the village of Valperga where a winding streetlet leads to the Sanctuary of Belmonte whose foundation, according to legend, is imputed to Arduino who, later on, handed it down to the Monks of Fruttuaria.

The Nature Oriented Reserve of the "Vaude" is an oasis of nature and biodiversity: it is rich in fauna and flora which are unique in the world. One can discover its beauties either by foot, or by bike or even on horseback, as there are many horse-riding clubs in the area.

And these are only a few hints of what you will find in this land of culture, history, traditions, nature and sports: horse riding, golf, rowing, hiking, and climbing.

You will just be spoilt for choice!