The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Lake Campagna

countryside lake

The five lakes of the moraine amphitheater are beautiful, each with its own unique characteristics. They're all worth exploring, preferably on foot, but some are also accessible by mountain bike. If you'd like to learn more about them, please contact me - Piero7

The square was opened between 1843 and 1844 after the demolition of the Church of Santa Chiara and the southern part of the convent of the same name. The Convent of Saint Clare was built in 1310, and the nuns remained here until 1802, the year the order was abolished following the Napoleonic decree suppressing religious orders. The approximately 2,200 square meter square was created specifically for the grain market, as the colonnades could serve as shelter for grain during bad weather.

The current building was constructed between 969 and 1005. At the end of the 11th and beginning of the 12th centuries, the crypt and the choir were significantly expanded to accommodate liturgical innovations. Severe damage caused by an earthquake in 1117 prompted significant renovations. The crypt was altered during the 12th century, and the cloister was also built during this period.

Lake Campagna, also known as "Lake Cascinette", is a glacial body of water formed with the retreat of the Balteo glacier. It is part of the suggestive system of the "Five Lakes of Ivrea", together with Lake Sirio, Lake Nero, Lake Pistono and Lake San Michele.

The Castello di Ivrea, also known as the “Castello dalle rosse torri” (Castle of the Red Towers), is an impressive medieval castle that towers over the town of Ivrea in the Piedmont region. The castle was built in 1358 by order of Amedeo VI of Savoy, also known as the Conte Verde. It served as a symbol of Savoyard rule over Ivrea and Canavese, mainly for defensive purposes. It stands on a hill overlooking the town and the road to the Valle d’Aosta. The castle has four imposing round towers that characterize its structure. These towers, each 34 meters high, are located next to the cathedral and the bishop’s palace. The castle walls were once surrounded by a wide moat, and the only access was via a drawbridge. From the battlements, defenders could throw stones and boiling water at attackers. Unfortunately, the interior of the castle was completely dismantled and altered when it served as a political and criminal prison from 1700 to 1970. Once a stronghold of power and defense, the castle was transformed by time and the changing needs of society.

The Piazza di Ivrea, officially known as Piazza Ferruccio Nazionale, is the main historical piazza of Ivrea. This piazza is located in the heart of the old city center and is surrounded by important buildings such as the Palazzo di Città, the current seat of the city hall, and the Romanesque church of Sant’Ulderico. Ivrea itself is known for its rich industrial heritage, especially thanks to the influence of the Olivetti factories, which played a major role in the development of the city. Since 2018, Ivrea has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site for this industrial history.

The Cathedral of Ivrea - officially Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta - has been the episcopal church of Ivrea since the early Middle Ages. There was already a temple here in ancient Roman Eporedia, dedicated to Apollo or Jupiter, which was destroyed in the 5th or early 6th century. The crypt is freely accessible and there is audio guidance in several languages.