Lanzo Torinese: Ponte del Diavolo, History and Mountain Culture

Lanzo Torinese combines the striking Ponte del Diavolo with a historic borgo, as well as textile and mountaineering museums. It also offers geological features, religious history and hiking trails with far-reaching views.

Ponte del Diavolo and Geological Landscape

Ponte del Diavolo has a span of 37 metres and is 65 metres long. The Ponte del Diavolo Nature Reserve covers around 30 hectares and preserves geological formations known as “marmitte dei giganti”.

You can reach the structure on foot from the access points on Via Frasca, Via Papa Giovanni XXIII and Via Montebasso. The Ponte del Diavolo Geo-Itinerary follows the rocks of the Complesso Ultrabasico di Lanzo, a fragment of the Earth’s mantle, as well as the morphology of the riverbeds of the Tesso and Stura di Lanzo. The eastern approach to the Trek Calcante starts at the entrance to Parco del Ponte del Diavolo.

Historic Borgo and Religious History

In the historic borgo, narrow lanes known as chintane are part of the townscape. Some have survived to this day; arches and long vaulted passageways make them partly resemble pedestrian galleries. Today’s Chiesa di Santa Croce dates back to around the year 1200 and housed a hospitium peregrinorum for strangers and pilgrims travelling along the Lanzo route to Santiago de Compostela from 1353 onwards.

The Porta e Torre civica di Aymone di Challant dates in its present form from 1329 to 1357. The Santuario della Madonna di Loreto was built in 1618 based on the model of the Santa Casa di Loreto. Since 2007, it has featured a Stations of the Cross with fourteen stations covering around 22 metres. During the festival held every 25 years, a wooden representation of Cristo Risorto is carried through the streets of Lanzo.

Textile Art and the History of Mountaineering

The Museo Etnografico dell'Arte Tessile Lanzese “Ester Fornara Borla” is dedicated to the “Arte Popolana Lanzese” textile art typical of the Valli di Lanzo. It displays a still-functioning loom from the late 19th century. From April to September, it is open to the public on the second Sunday of each month from 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm; group visits are possible by prior arrangement.

The Ecomuseo Storia dell'Alpinismo nelle Valli di Lanzo is located at the headquarters of the Club Alpino Italiano in Lanzo Torinese. It displays historic mountaineering equipment, including skis from different periods, wooden snowshoes, rock-climbing equipment and ice axes. The objects are located in the communal room at the CAI headquarters and are fully and freely visible there.

Hiking Trails and Getting There

The ridge section of the Anello di Monte Basso offers views on one side across the plain of Turin to the hills of Turin and the Basilica di Superga, and on the other side across the entire lower Lanzo Valley from Germagnano to Ceres. Forestry crews made the circular route fully accessible to hikers. The first stage leads from Lanzo Torinese to Rifugio Salvin.

The eastern approach to the Trek Calcante can be reached by public transport via the nearby railway station and the Movicentro of Lanzo, or by car via the SP 2. Lanzo station is served by line SFM A of the Servizio ferroviario metropolitano di Torino.

More Places for Your Trip to Italy

For more destinations, you can also discover Condove, San Giorgio Canavese, Sciolze, Marentino, Moncalieri, Piobesi Torinese, Agliè and Cuceglio.

To the overarching travel overview: Turin.