A pleasant hike that combines nature, history, and spirituality, starting from the village of Vermogno and heading to the Ricetto di Magnano and the famous Monastery of Bose, with a stop at the splendid Romanesque church of San Secondo.
Vermogno is situated on the eastern slope of the Serra, Europe’s largest moraine, shaped over more than two million years by the retreat of the Balteo Glacier. Leaving the town behind, the route climbs toward the hill’s ridge until it reaches the hamlet of Belvedere; from there, winding through scenic trails and side roads, you’ll reach the village of Piletta.
After crossing a small stream, you arrive at the picturesque Church of San Secondo: dating back to the 11th century, this building is one of the most significant and fascinating examples of Romanesque architecture in the area between the Biella and Canavese regions.
The route then continues uphill toward the village of Magnano, passing through its ancient Ricetto—the fortified structure that served as a secure storage facility for the community’s harvests and goods during the Middle Ages. From here, the route descends toward the Monastery of Bose, a religious community and cultural center of European significance, founded in the 1970s by Enzo Bianchi.
The return to Vermogno finally winds along the shaded trails of the large, lush Serra Forest, bringing the loop to a close in total relaxation.
