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Borgofranco d’Ivrea -

Favria

Saturday 05  October 2024 152km Altitude gain 1950mt

Total time: 3:20:25 Withdrawals: 19

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of arrival
winner

BAGIOLI Andrea

SOUDAL QUICK-STEP

3:20:25

2nd
HIRSCHI Marc

UAE TEAM EMIRATES

+ 0:00

3rd
ARANBURU DEBA Alex

MOVISTAR TEAM

+ 0:00

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The 107th edition of this race will be held along a substantially flat route from the start in Borgofranco d’Ivrea until shortly after the first crossing of the finish line in Favria, where a 74 km circuit begins. After Castellamonte, the riders will face an uninterrupted series of climbs and descents, tackling the Colleretto Castelnuovo, a climb of about 7 km at 3.4% and the ascent of Faiollo (5.1 km at 5.4%) among others. The athletes will then reach Pont Canavese and, after the bridge over the Orco river, the hardest climb of the race will be tackled: i.e. the Alpette, about 5 km at 9% and gradients reaching 17% in the first part on a rather narrow road. A fast descent will take the riders to Cuorgnè, where the Pratiglione climb (4.4 km at 3.4%), the last challenge of the day, will begin.
Last km
The last 5 km are practically flat on relatively wide roads with various traffic obstacles (roundabouts, traffic islands, etc.) and street furniture. Final straight of 200 m, very wide (7 m wide) on asphalt.

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Borgofranco d'Ivrea

Overview

Borgofranco d’Ivrea (Piedmont), small agricultural village, built towards the end of 1200 by the will of the bishop of Ivrea and the Marquis of Monferrato to constitute an outpost in a disputed area ( borgo-franco) Over the centuries and with ups and downs it has been transformed into the current residential complex at the confluence of an important road junction that connects Piedmont, Biella, Valle d’Aosta and from there France and Switzerland and on the Turin-Aosta railway line.

In ancient times, pilgrims from England (Canterbury) and France travelled from Borgofranco to Rome along the Via Francigena. Route still current and much used by slow tourism – sustainable.

A territory crossed by the  river Dora Baltea (tributary of the Po) where thesigns left by a history of agro-pastoral economy are still evident: from the ancient Ricetto, almost intact, with the regularity of its streets and the typical rural architecture of the houses consisting of two or three floors with large arched loggias and large “travà” for hay storage and below stables, to the villages scattered around, each with its often very ancient church and a beautiful Romanesque bell tower in the hamlet of San Germano.

What distinguishes Borgofranco from the other villages of Canavese is the extraordinary complex of Balmetti, spontaneous architectures born on the basis of cellars that exploit air currents (“now”) at constant temperature from natural cavities and produced by geo-eventsspecial natural (paleofrana). An extraordinary territory characterized by the charm of an ancient village and the quiet beauty of a varied landscape made of soft hills where nature, art and culture make an interesting visit.

A place that timidly opens its doors offering hospitality and hospitality to tourists constantly looking for excellence. On foot or by bike you can walk the Via Francigena through the municipal territory offers an interesting route so you can admire the terraced vineyards, the complex of Balmetti with the former brewery De Giacomi, the ancient Ricetto and the seventeenth-century Palazzo Marini.

The territory has maintained over time the cultivation of local agricultural products passing down over time the gastronomic specialties ( poor dishes of the peasant cuisine): salami, lard, mocetta, cheese aged in the Balmetti , good wine and typical desserts (canestrelli), the latter consumed by the English Crown.

Food

The Municipality of Borgofranco of Ivrea creating the brand De.CO . and bet on the enhancement of the local products and from that stems a narrow and deep relationship Between the producers and the territory .

All this needs to hold in count the elements of specificity of the  typical products  and in particular:

  • The link of the typical product with the territory and the importance from the specific resources of the territory. In the productive process of the product;
  • The collective character arising from the involvement of a plurality of producers between them.
  • The link with the local community: the value of the typical product often goes beyond the businesses who commercialize it.

The typical sweet is more known as “canestrello”

Canestrelli from Borgofranco of Ivrea

The “Canestrello” goes back at the medieval time, indeed _ during the feasts they prepared the Nebule, cakes made with flour and butter, these were used to pay for the performances of the actors-clerics and the organizers of the games . In Borgofranco the Canestrelli are produced and exported abroad , especially they arrived at the table of Late Queen Elizabeth of England which used to be an admirer . After the discovery of the Americas, the importation of cocoa in Piedmont (1650) was introduced.  This new ingredient was added, characterizing like this the  Canestrelli of Borgofranco  D’Ivrea  as known today. Once the hot plates, that serve to give the mold and the typical shape, were warmed up  on the fire, now  they are  warmed up  electrically . These waffles , with various  flavors  like lemon , vanilla and cocoa, still keep  their ancient traditional form : crunchy , very thin and imprinted with coats of arms of the  family,  these are the characteristics  that  distinguish  those of Borgofranco  of Ivrea.

Points of interest

THE VILLAGE OF THE BALMETTI

The balmetti are a series of natural cellars (there are now over 200) leaning against the morainic rocks of the Mombarone massif, in use since ancient times for conservation. They are about a kilometer from the center of the village and extend along the Via Francigena for about 500 meters forming a village of its own, apparently abandoned and uninhabited. The peculiarity of the Balmit (from the term of Celto-Ligurian origin balma (cave), which indicates the shelter under rock, hollowed into the mountain, from which several place names of Piedmontese alpine area) is explained by a unique geo-natural phenomenon: the air currents, locally called òre (aura in Latin), which blow from the bowels of the mountain by slipping into the cracks of the rocks left by the Balteo Glacier, allow to keep constant, inside the cellars, the humidity and temperature, the latter attested on 7/8 C in all seasons. By mitigating the cold winter and refreshing the hot summers the currents create an environment conducive to the storage and storage of food and wine. These buildings, very essential in form, example of spontaneous and popular architecture, are usually composed of one or two floors above ground where the upper floor, if present, is used for convivial meetings and then equipped with potage and fireplace. Along this magical path called “the mountain that breathes” is present ” Balmetti art – Place of art and culture” where you have an artistic path created along the path connecting the Balmetti below with the Balmetti above , the artists’ square as a place and moment of aggregation for the local and tourist community, through the involvement of young people and associations present in the territory becoming also a showcase of local products through tasting events, exposure and distribution.

PARISH CHURCH OF MADONNA DEL ROSARIO AND SAINTS MAURIZIO AND GERMANO

The church was built around the middle of the 17th century and restored just a year later. The interior consists of three naves in Baroque style, the columns are entirely in marble, finely decorated. Next to the main altar there are two other lateral ones, all in marble and in baroque style. On the side you can admire the painting of the Annunciation of the second half of 1600 by Orazio Gentileschi.

CHURCH OF SANTA MARTA

The exterior of the church of Santa Marta is in full medieval style. In 1691 the building underwent substantial changes.  The marquis Claudio Marini died in Borgofranco in 1629 and was buried here adjacent to the Palazzo Marini, because at that time it was used as a parish church.

THE CASCINASSA

The Cascinassa in the past was the place where farmers and servants of Count Palma, feudatory of Borgofranco d’Ivrea. Today it is a private residential complex but inside the court you can admire an octagonal fountain in stone slabs (the Paciassa) deep and embedded, that hides a really interesting story as it was used in ancient times as a glacier where the ice formed was subsequently cut and deposited in the balmetto for the preservation of products. It is also still visible the old brick wood oven, for the production of common bread .

PALAZZO MARINI

A bit of history: the Marquis Claudio Marini was invested with the fief of Borgofranco by Duke Carlo Emanuele I of Savoy, on 18 January 1623. The Marini family belonged to the Genoese patriciate with illustrious ancestors. The marquis Claudio died in Borgofranco in 1629 and was buried in the church of S. Marta adjacent to the Palazzo Marini, which at that time served as a parish church. The building complex of Palazzo Marini occupies an almost rectangular lot inside the original medieval village, near the door to Ivrea. It consists of a noble part, to the south, and a rustic service, to the north. The residential part, the most important, consists of a ground floor, a first floor and an attic. There are no cellars, as in all the buildings of Borgofranco, because of the marshy land. The main staircase, located at the side of the entrance hall, connects the porch with the loggia above; the spiral staircase, contained in the cylindrical tower dating back to the last quarter of the thirteenth century. The Marquis Marini invested in 1623 of the feud of Borgofranco, bought a plot of land with pre-existing buildings that he had restored and enlarged by inserting the staircase and the porch with loggia. Palazzo Marini preserves a series of wall decorations dating back to the second quarter of the ‘6oo. (on the walls of the staircase, in the four rooms of the first floor and in the loggia). On the vault of the staircase is painted, between heaven and earth, the myth of Proserpina: below is the cry of Demeter, above the chariot of Pluto that holds his beloved in his arms. The large Hall, which is accessed directly from the staircase, is covered by a ceiling with wooden beams decorated with Savoy knots. Above the elegant stucco fireplace is painted, monochrome, the fire of Troy with the escape of Aeneas. Hall of the seasons: the putti with the body of bifid and twisted fish, hold the entablature of a low architectural structure that runs all around the shutter of the vault. From four openings appear allegories of the seasons. Hall of ethics, painted with muted tones of ochre and green and with bright inserts of ultramarine and red; on each side biblical scenes with captions of comment. Hall of abundance, is certainly one of the earliest examples of the genre in all of Piedmont. In the centre, on the clouds of a golden sky, sits the Abundance. Such iconography can only have been conceived in a period of fortune for the Marini family and must therefore date back to the first half of the century. The Loggia, finally, extends into the back wall with the prospect of a gallery with seven bays. It seems to see, in the frescoes, the intervention of at least three different groups of decorators: in the vault of the staircase, in the first two rooms and in those, of higher quality and more advanced times, “Ethics” and “Abundance”.

THE VIA FRANCIGENA AND CYCLING ROUTES

The Via Francigena is the main road travelled in the past, especially at the beginning of the second millennium, by pilgrims traveling from Canterbury to Rome, place of the martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul, “in search of the Lost Heavenly Homeland”. In Canavese there is the 45th of the 79 stages of the itinerary made in 900 by Sigeric, Archbishop of Canterbury, and by the same described returning from Rome, where he had received the liturgical vestment, known as the Pallium, from the hands of the Pope. The English archbishop, in fact, described in detail his route to Canterbury, noting in a diary above all the various stopping points. The concentric, the Ivozio and San Germano hamlets and the Via dei Balmetti are part of the Via Francigena in Piedmont. Along the devotional path, pilgrims use to stop at the hostel for accommodation and accommodation. On the right bank of the Dora Baltea is also the bike path of the Via Francigena

DORA BALTEA AND THE RED RIVER

The Dora Baltea (Deura Bàutia in Piedmontese),  was born in the Aosta Valley from the confluence, at Entreves della Dora di Ferret and Dora di Vény. Already particularly rich in water, along its route it receives water from minor rivers, enters Piedmont and crosses the town of Borgofranco d’Ivrea heading towards the Po. Along the river, the town has a property that extends for 40 hectares on the banks of the Dora river park. A small tributary of the Dora, called Rio Rossoproveniente from a quarry in the hill and west of the concentric makes a walk along the river particularly interesting. In fact, the rio has a yellow color (golden) due to the leaching upstream of these pigments quarry that were used in ancient times to decorate the facades of the churches using these lands “poor local”.

ROUTE OF THE ALPINE VINEYARDS “Route des Vignobles Alpins” (I Tupiun)

From the town of Borgofranco d’Ivrea to the border with the Aosta Valley Region, the morainic basin is marked by an imposing series of terraces torn from the mountains and cultivated with vines, where rise old medieval villages, with alleys and stone houses leaning against each other. These terraces are made up of alternating dry walls, with functions of support, and fertile morainic soil transported from the valley floor. From each ridge rise rows of pilasters, in stone and whitewashed bricks with a truncated-conical shape surmounted by a «hat» of stone that have suggested the unusual definition of “bacchus temples”. On the pillars rest the trellises or pergolas that support the vine shoots, called in Piedmontese topia or tupiunche constitute the most characteristic aspect of the landscape. The traveller coming from Baio Dora towards the concentric of Borgofranco d’Ivrea, on the left side can admire the topiary architecture of the vineyards on the hills of Montebuono.  The grape par excellence is represented by Nebbiolo, while the historical vine cultivar, and still the main one, is the Picotendro cv, characterized by small clusters and closely linked to the terroir of production.

EX BEER FACTORY

Inside the Balmetti it is possible to notice a building that dominates all the others, presenting itself as an interesting finding of industrial archaeology, worthy of attention. It is the brewery De Giacomi, closed for decades, which evokes the deeds of the founder, Luigi De Giacomi, originally from Chiavenna. De Giacomi found in Borgofranco a phenomenon of natural cellars where a cold air blows, coming from cracks in the rock said hours, which keeps the temperature constant. Among the Balmetti family, De Giacomi decided to set up his brewery, exploiting the natural cellars for the preservation of the product. In 1913 the Fratelli De Giacomi Brewery in Borgofranco d’Ivrea produced 12,000 hectoliters of low fermentation beer and employed 60 workers. In 1928, 7,600 hectoliters of beer were produced out of a total Italian of 1,100,000 hectoliters produced by 62 breweries. As early as 1880, the factory had a glacier of 1,000 cubic meters of natural ice.” The brewery Fratelli De Giacomi remains active until the First World War, exploiting the characteristics of the Balmetti in the brewing process.

GIANT BENH BIG – BENCH COMMUNITY

The giant green-blue bench, number 184, of the territory of Borgofranco d’Ivrea is located in Località Montebuono in a panoramic and contemplative point reachable by a short walk through the vineyards.

HYDROTHERAPY ESTABLISHMENT

The large villa built by the De Giacomi family towards the end of 800, surrounded by greenery, was a hydrotherapy establishment. In 1880, during the mining of mineral in the tunnel in the hamlet of Biò (concession of the De Giacomi) a source of arsenical water was discovered at the hydrotherapy center which arouses great medical interest : Following the analysis of the water, that of Borgofranco d’Ivrea, is evaluated as “the best of arsenic waters”, therefore perfect for the treatment of diseases of the blood, respiratory tract, skin, intestines and nervous system. The mineral water bottling plant in the early 1900s was expanded and embellished until 1936 when the property sells the companies.

IVREA 5 LAKES PARK

Cinque Laghi della Serra – Sirio, Pistono, Nero, di Campagna, San Michele- are scattered over an area of about 10 square kilometers around the city of Ivrea. The Black Lake of Borgofranco d’Ivreais mainly fed by rain and is characterized by a picturesque island in the southern part. Its name comes from the dark color of the water, resulting from the dense vegetation that surrounds it.

PARAGLIDING SCHOOOL CLUB CAVALLARIA

Paragliding in Cavallaria is a free flying discipline practiced since the 80s. The take-off takes place from Cima Cavallaria at an altitude of 1446 m asl. from the Casette at an altitude of 1300m above sea level, from the Ferns at an altitude of 920m above sea level and from San Giacomo di Andrate. The landing fields are situated on the territory of Borgofranco d’Ivrea in Baio Dora (Between the municipality of Lessolo and Baio Dora) It is very frequented and it is considered to be an interesting international trail.

Favria

Overview

A town in the plain, of ancient origin; it bases its economy on traditional agricultural activities, together with a modest industrial activity. The territory, fertile and productive, has a wavy geometric profile, with barely accentuated altimetric variations.

The etimology of the toponym is to be found in the Latin word FABRICA, whose attestation dates back to 1110.

In the 12th century, the jurisdiction of the feud was granted to the counts of Canavese by Henry V. Later, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa became the owner and entrusted the government to the marquises of Monferrato. Among historical-architectural evidences of its past we mention: the castle built in the 13th century, surrounded by a garden that houses over one hundred year old trees; the parish church of Saints Michael, Peter and Paul, built in the 18th century, in baroque and rococo style; the church of Saint Michael of medieval origin, next to which stands a valuable bell tower in Romanesque style and the church of Saint Peter “Vecchio” flanked by a Romanesque style bell tower.

Agricultural production includes cereals, wheat, fodder, grapes and other fruits. Part of the population is engaged in cattle farming and there are many horse-riding stables. The industrial activity consists of metalworking and chemical production companies. The tertiary sector is made up not only of a good commercial network but also of a range of services, including banking and insurance. There is no lack of facilities for social, sporting and leisure activities, located in the town and managed by various associations; municipal parks are very popular. The school complex is well developed and includes nursery, primary and lower secondary schools. There is a civic library for cultural enrichment. The accommodation facilities offer catering services.

Events: the traditional zootechnical Fair of “Sant’Isidoro” at the end of March, which is now in its 45th edition, with “la Bataille de Reines” (a fight between pregnant cows) and the patronal feast of Saints Peter and Paul, which is celebrated on June 29, with the large funfair and the always appreciated fireworks.

Points of interest

The Castle of the Marquises of Monferrato (Sec. XII)

The castle of Favria, rebuilt by the Solaro di Govone, looks like an elegant building with an adjoining garden and park. I Solaro, was one of the most remarkable houses of Piedmont, which was divided into six branches called the marquises of Borgo, Chiusa, the counts of Moretta, Villanova, Monasterolo and Favria. The Solaro, transformed the castle into a beautiful villa, with apartments furnished by ancient and modern tapesteria and paintings that Bertolotti describes as women’s portraits, perhaps of ladies of some family that had been feudal in Favria. The most modern decorations and frescoes are by Vigna and Ferri painters.

The park, is described by the writer Bertolotti in volume VII “Walks in Canavese”, as “delicious and with beautiful rarefied views.” There was a lot of game: there were pheasants and a deer, an attraction and curiosity for the neighbouring villages.

 

Parish Church of Saints Michael, Peter and Paul (Sec. XVII) and its bell tower

In 1688, the construction of the bell tower began, which was completed in 1717. A plaque walled in the base attributes its construction to the Community of Favria:

“Communitas Inchoavit 1688, Perfecit 1717”

It has a square base with external sides of approximately 6.25 m, the masonry has a thickness of approximately 1.30 m. It is made with rounded pebbles bound with mortar, alternating with bands of bricks, and with an external perimeter of exposed bricks. Access is via an opening on the north side, connected to the road entrance, to the west, with a narrow passage placed between the bell tower and the church.

The west and south sides border directly with the public road, while on the east side is located the building that housed the parish theatre. There was a driveway gate that divided the base of the bell tower from the building. This space will then be occupied by the extension of the hall.

The bell tower of Favria has six orders above ground, in addition to the base covered with stone slabs with an upper connection of moulded stone. Each façade is delimited by corner pilasters that rise above the base.

In the panels of the first and second order there are two single-lancet windows with internal splay, the first architraved, the second with a lowered arch. In the first order the single-lancet windows are buffered to the north and east, while in the second the closure concerns the north side.

In the third order there is an oculus with a diameter of 60 cm, and in the fourth there is another architraved single-lancet window.

The fifth order is occupied by the clock face and its height is almost doubled compared to that of the first.

The last order consists of the belfry, which is somewhat different from the rest of the construction, from which it is separated by a stone and shaped-brick cornice. On the latter rests the base of the cell, 160 cm high, articulated according to the above architectural partition.

The bell tower, completely in bricks, is delimited by angular pilasters that have a wall texture, similar to a flat and regular ashlar. The fornix opens on each side, with a round arch and supported by flat pilasters, with capital, supporting a tympanum with variously moulded frames. The top part consists of a second stone and brick cornice, supported by shaped brick modillons, currently covered with cement mortar. The cornice on which a thick reinforced concrete slab now rests, is surmounted by a copper-sheathed roof with four pitches. A metal railing about 1 meter high runs all around the roof. The bell tower is divided into eleven rooms through ten floor slabs made with wooden beams, fixed in the putlog holes of outside walls, and irregular planking, connected by ladders, always in wood. On the top floor, in addition to the planking, there is a reinforced concrete slab that supports the structure of the bells. In the internal facades of the masonry it can be observed that they contain a significant percentage of stone mixed with bricks, towards the middle they are in mixed masonry, to then reach the last levels consisting primarily of bricks. All the internal facades are roughly filled with mortar. The openings, with internal splay, do not have windows or traces of them.

At irregular heights the aforementioned putlog holes appear, but on the third and fourth levels, there are real loopholes in the east side, then buffered on the outside. At variable heights, the outside walls have a reduced thickness of 10 and 15 cm, while the last one, at the floor of the cell, is about 50 cm.

At the level of the clock the floor supports the mechanism connected with the four dials. In the internal facades of the bell tower there are the splays of the fornixes, with segmental arch. The windowsills, originally all at the same level, now have different elevations on the four sides. The roof has a wooden structure, with beams and plank.

Church of San Pietro Vecchio or Cemetery church (sex. XI – XII)

The church of San Pietro Vecchio is located on the edge of the town of Favria, adjacent to the cemetery. It was built as a small country chapel around the XI-XII century: the lower part of the bell tower (later raised) and the Romanesque apse (now hidden from view by the sacristy and the cemetery mortuary) are from that period. A further extension led the church to take on a three-aisled structure and allowed it to serve as a parish church. We find it mentioned in a document of 1329 drawn up during a pastoral visit: it is indicated as the church of San Pietro de “Peza” (name of the locality where it is located), belonging to the diocese of Ivrea. Some fragments of Romanesque frescoes emerged under the fifteenth-century paintings of the apse show how the church, in the thirteenth-fourteenth century, must have already been richly frescoed. New paintings replaced the older ones in the fifteenth century: these are the frescoes of the apse (1432) and those of the chapel of the Madonna delle Grazie (late fifteenth century, early sixteenth century). Probably there were other frescoes, no longer findable today, which had to be in the left aisle. The current architectural layout of the church, seen from the front, derives from the works carried out in the eighteenth century, when it was built, in exposed bricks, the pronaos with three fornixes surmounted by an elegant pediment, in the centre of which is placed an oval that housed a painting no longer visible.

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