Saluzzo and the Western Valleys
57 kilometers south of Turin lies SALUZZO. This medieval flourishing city was later the seat of one of the few Renaissance mansions in Piedmont. It has retained its former character to this day: damaged, ocher-coated tenement houses and Renaissance, covered with illusionist landscapes, houses stand in rows along cobbled streets, whose stairs rise to the former castle (today there is a prison there). It is not only a pleasant place for tourists, but also, thanks to the bus connection system, it has become a convenient base for trips to the Po valleys, Varaity and Maira, cutting into the Monte Viso massif towards France.
There are many sights worth seeing in the city. Just below the castle rises the Gothic church of San Giovanni. It has a series of XIII- and fourteenth-century frescoes and the tomb of the Renaissance ruler Saluzzo, Marquis Louis II, which, contrary to the prevailing convention of the time, was depicted as a medieval knight under a fancifully carved canopy. Casa Cavassa is nearby, Gothic, Fifteenth-century palace with arcaded courtyard. It was once the home of one of Ludwik's ministers., and now houses the city's Museo Civico. Inside you can admire furniture and paintings from this period, including a magnificently gilded painting of Madonna della Misericordia, on which the Madonna protects with the folds of her wide coat the Marquis Louis II, his wife and the entire population of Saluzzo.
Slightly south of Saluzzo (5 Min. bus ride from the train station) Castello di Manta rises, original medieval fortress, which the fifteenth-century marquesses of Saluzzo turned into a comfortable palace. Although from the outside it looks similarly raw as the castle in Saluzzo, it is worth going inside and seeing the late Gothic frescoes in the Barons' Hall. One of them illustrates the myth of the fountain of youth: elderly people go in procession, and some of them impatiently shed their clothes, to immerse yourself in this magical water as soon as possible. Another fresco pt. Nine Heroes and Nine Heroines depict idealized, pale-faced, dressed in rich outfits, knightly courtiers and magnificent ladies. They stand under unrealistic trees, from the branches of which hang their coats of arms.
Po Valley (Val Po)
Source of the River Po, which flows through the whole of northern Italy and collects sewage from thousands of factories of this industrial part of the country before entering the Adriatic., lies west of Saluzzo, near the French border. At the end of the valley is the alpine town of CRISSOLO, from where you can either on foot, or by minibus (in summer) reach Pian del Re, grassy lowland, the Pad flows.
Going even further, you come to the entrance to Pertuis de la Traversette. This tunnel, 75 meters long (currently closed) was built by the Marquis Ludwik. In this way, the Marquis wanted to shorten the path of the merchants he sent, carrying goods on mules to France. According to legend, Hannibal led his elephants through the pass above this tunnel, which enabled him to surprise the Romans.
Crissolo is the most convenient starting point for climbing Monte Viso, the highest peak of Piedmont. About a three-hour hike from Pian del Re is the rifugio (shelter) Quintino Sella. It takes about six hours to reach the top of Monte Viso from this chalet. The route to rifugio goes past mountain ponds and is so beautiful, that it is worth going through, even if you don't intend to reach the top. You can also shorten your way even more and leave the main trail just before Lago Chiaretto. From here, near Lago Superiore, there is a path back to Pian del Re.
There are also caves near Crissolo. To the Grotta del Rio Martino above the city (stalaktyty, underground lake and waterfall) you can walk from Crissolo by a longer or a shorter route. The first one takes half an hour, but it is steep, while the second, the easier one takes about an hour. All, except for very experienced cavers, they should use the services of guides, who take the groups out from outside the AAST office in the main square of Crissolo.
Val Varaita
Only thing, which can attract a tourist to, located south of the Po valley, Val Varaita, typical rural furniture is made here. They have been produced since the eighteenth century, when the local residents decided to make money on the fashion prevailing among the Thuringians and Genoese for building houses in the countryside. Thanks to the clientele of the wealthy, Turinians coming for weekends, craftsmanship is flourishing and today, although the landscape has been irreparably damaged by factories that do not fit it and ugly, built in years 80. apartment blocks.
Val Maira
Even further south is the quiet, narrow valley, Val Maira. It looks particularly impressive from the bus from Cuneo rushing over the precipices, whose driver seems unaware of the distance between the bus and the bottom of the gorge. Located high above the river, consisting of the traditional stone and wood houses of the village, they are very picturesque. The village of ELVA on the hills above STROPPO is especially beautiful (Access by hitchhiking or unofficial taxi, which you should ask about in cafes). If you are going to go on a trip, please have a map before leaving Saluzzo. The best excursion base is the small village of PRAZZO, where the Hotel Impero is located (• 0171/99124) with modern, comfortable double rooms without bathroom included in the price 22000 L and with a good traditional restaurant. There are no hotels in Stroppo, there is only a campsite, located just off the turn to Elva.