Canavese region is in Piedmont between Turin and Ivrea, a 45-minute drive from the centre of Turin and about an hour from Milan. It is an area rich in attractions and environmental heritage, starting with the Gran Paradiso National Park, which is the oldest park in Italy having been founded in 1922. The many animals that roam freely in the park, from ibexes, chamois, marmots and foxes, to eagles and bearded vultures are easily spotted, and so it is an ideal destination for a rewarding photo safari, especially if accompanied by one of the park guides who know exactly where visitors can best encounter the local fauna. The park is also an ideal destination for nature discovery and environmental education activities for children and families, but above all it is a popular destination for relaxation and outdoor tourism.
Ph credits: Franco Ferrero - Ceresole Rosset Canavese can also boast Italy’s only Italian 4,000-metre mountain, the Gran Paradiso, as well as numerous peaks that exceed 3,000 metres. These are very popular for free climbing at an international level. There is also the possibility of canyoning or, in winter, climbing icefalls. But the park does not just offer thrills and technical activities for adrenaline junkies, because with its eight hundred kilometres of trails (including the Strade Reali) it offers excursions for all tastes and all levels, from simple walks for families to multi-day treks (Alta Via Canavesana, Giroparco Gran Paradiso).
Lake Candia
For those who do not want to, or cannot, walk, there is the road from Ceresole Reale to the Colle del Nivolet. At 2,600 metres, it is one of the highest roads in Europe and visitors find themselves in the wilderness just a few steps away from their car. There are also other protected areas in the Canavese like the Pelati Mountains and the Ivrea Five Lakes and Lake Candia. But even outside the parks, Canavese is a nature paradise with a great variety of landscapes and extraordinary biodiversity, as you can go from the plains around Turin to the Erbaluce vineyard hills in little more than an hour's drive, and then on to the glaciers and Alpine altitudes of the Canavese mountains.
Ph credits: Mattia Bonavida- Sirio lakeOne of the characteristics of the area is its wealth of lakes, the legacy of a great glacier that once occupied the plain and left us the Anfiteatro Morenico della Serra and the lakes of Viverone, Candia and the Ivrea Five Lakes, which are excellent for bathing, for motorized activities including water skiing (Viverone), for trekking and excursions by e-bike and on horseback (Ivrea 5 Lakes) as well as for bird watching, canoeing and excursions with electric boats (Candia). Lake Ceresole is of great interest for windsurfing is it is one of the few lakes at an altitude of 1,600 metres where this sport can be practiced.
The entire Canavese area is a training ground for outdoor activities like free flight (paragliding or hang-gliding) with two different take-off stations and then there are water activities such as rafting and canoeing. In Ivrea the Dora Baltea is one of the few urban tracks for canoeing and kayaking where international competitions are held. Among the experiences offered by the Consortium is the Baptism of Flight that allows even those with no experience to take to the skies in a paraglider with an expert instructor, or to soar in a hot-air balloon, also with a personal chef on board for a VIP experience. And anyone who loves walking can take the Via Francigena Canavesana, a route with peaceful landscapes, baptisteries and Romanesque churches. 
In winter it is possible to go cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and, for the more experienced, ski mountaineering. For those who do not want to walk, but still want to immerse themselves in nature, the Consortium also offers horse-drawn carriage rides which are ideal for families with children. And we also recommend walks among the Erbaluce or Carema vineyards, perhaps in the company of a sommelier, ending the day with a guided tasting in a wine cellar, a forest bath or a pottery course in Castellamonte, with the possibility of visiting an ancient kiln, the artists' workshops or a pottery factory.
Ph credits: Mattia Bonavida - Castello di Agliè
Canavese is a splendid choice not only for active tourism but also for cultural tourism as it has four UNESCO heritage sites: the pile-dwelling areas of Viverone, The Sacred Mount of Belmonte, The Castle of Agliè and Ivrea, 20th-century industrial city. Among the events not to be missed is the Ivrea Carnival with the Battle of the Oranges in February, although there are also numerous traditional festivals and historical re-enactments throughout the year. Excellent food and wine, enchanting landscapes, picturesque villages and many castles, among then the Masino with its extraordinary park. And, of course, nature galore.
Rosset Lake - trekkingValchiusella is a beautiful valley renowned for its wild herbs that become rustic or refined dishes depending on the interpretation of the chef. The Consortium offers foraging excursions with a chef who holds one Michelin star and a green star for sustainability, and also with an ethnobotanical expert. After learning to recognize the herbs, we can enjoy a picnic on the meadow with herb-based dishes. Valchiusella is also home to the Damanhur community, which offers holistic experiences and visits to the extraordinary Temples of Humanity. These are extraordinary temples 75 metres underground with frescoed walls and mosaic floors covered with symbols of all religions and have a magical charm.
The Canavese is a land of a thousand opportunities, and the Canavese Village project by the Consortium of Tourism Operators Valli del Canavese offers unique and authentic experiences in the area.
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