Fort of Ceva
T13
Level of difficulty
Type
Duration
2 hours 10 minutes
STARTING POINT
Carlo Marenco Street
Municipality of departure
Ceva
Starting fee
380 m
POINT OF ARRIVAL
Carlo Marenco Street
Municipality of arrival
Ceva
Arrival fee
380 m
Length of the route
16.1 km
MAXIMUM QUOTE.
582 m
Minimum fee
375 m
Uphill elevation gain
532 m
Downhill gradient
529 m
Charging column
Not present
THE PATH.
Wide and unexpected loop itinerary that runs among the slopes and meadow-grasslands that embrace and surround the town of Ceva.
From the historic center (which houses, among other things, the Marenco Theater and the characteristic Broglio Tower) we first move toward Regione San Bernardino, then, bending eastward, we reach locality Mollere before briefly driving along Provincial Road 343 and climbing slightly in altitude, plunging into the hills that slope toward the famous Fort.
Cutting across the ridge in a northeasterly direction, again, we temporarily return to asphalt and shortly reach the Chapel of Our Lady of Loreto.
From here, finally, we descend in altitude to return to the center of Ceva by lapping the winding bends of the Tanaro River.
LOCATIONS AND POINTS OF INTEREST
The Fort of Ceva
Perched on the hill overlooking the town and once a strategic stronghold serving the House of Savoy, it has always been an important example of military architecture and the Piedmontese fortification system due to the coexistence of military and religious elements that distinguish it. Demolished by Napoleonic troops in 1801, the Fort of Ceva can still be visited today, with its perimeter and the rooms that have remained intact open to the public.
The Marenco Theater
Designed by engineer Giovanni Levi and inaugurated in 1860, the Carlo Marenco Theater was established through the efforts of the Cebana Filodrammatica Society and with financial support from the community. Restored in 2007, the building retains its original structure intact, featuring a horseshoe-shaped orchestra, three tiers of wooden boxes, a frescoed ceiling, hand-carved details, and good overall acoustics. Built, as mentioned, through popular initiative, the Marenco Theater continues to this day to serve as a cultural hub, a treasure trove of history, and a bridge between generations.
The Broglio Tower
Built in 1331 and constructed almost entirely of brick with some sections of cobblestone, the structure was originally built as a defensive tower for the city walls. Closed off from the outside, open toward the historic village, and rising over three distinct levels, it is popularly known (despite its battlements) as the “Torre Guelfa” and stands as the most striking symbol of the rich history that has characterized the city of Ceva.
Our Lady of Loreto Chapel
Located on the edge of the Ferrazzi hamlet, it probably dates back to the 17th century and was erected at the behest of a local resident who undertook to build a sacred chapel in honor of Our Lady Most Holy of Loreto. From the typical structure of country churches with a central entrance and two side seats, it is characterized by a rectangular shape and houses, among other things, a valuable statue of the Black Madonna with, on either side, two frescoes referring to St. Maurice and St. James.
Local Specialties
The omelet sandwich: Having gained fame between the 1930s and the 1980s among those who traveled by train from Turin to Liguria and found it for sale on carts along the station platforms, the Ceva omelet sandwich is a local specialty that was awarded the Municipal Designation of Origin in 2014. Although there is no single, universally accepted recipe, it remains a precious culinary specialty for a city that celebrates mushrooms every year at a dedicated trade fair, which will have international status starting in 2026.
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