VARISELLA The ruins of the Baratonia castle, churches, and pools of Varisella

From the town square, descend towards the parish church by taking a short shortcut. From the church, go down via Don Cabodi which leads into via Fiano. Continue to the right, skip the Costa hamlet (if you want to skip the pools part you can turn left here), until you reach the chapel of Madonna della Neve. Continue further until you take a path that goes down towards the stream near a small clearing. The path runs along the stream heading back in the direction of departure: follow the single track with some white and red signs. Ignore a first footbridge over the stream and continue until you arrive near the Costa hamlet: after a pillar, turn right on flat ground onto a pastoral road track which then becomes more evident. This leads to the bridge over the Ceronda: after crossing, immediately turn left and uphill to the chapel of San Grato. From the opposite side of the chapel starts an unpaved road on a false flat to follow until you meet a signpost indicating on the left the castle of Baratonia and the chapel of San Biagio (path 41). The path then descends until a small trail (slightly to the left) climbs the ridge which in a few minutes leads near the ruins. If you do not trust to pass through the small path, you can continue on the main path and, upon reaching near the chapel of San Biagio, at the height of an explanatory panel, turn left.

From the ruins area descend keeping the castle on the left until you reach the chapel of San Biagio, cross the stream and continue on the dirt road. Further ahead, leave the dirt road to take path 42 on the left which, after a short climb, reaches a new ridge to be covered on a false flat until taking on the left a trail that crosses again a small stream (often dry). From there a path becomes evident again, mainly used by shepherds, until reaching a large meadow area. Then turn right to skirt the meadow uphill, until reaching a wooded area where you re-enter the dirt road traveled earlier which allows you to return quickly to San Grato. Retrace the outbound route until you cross the road of the Costa hamlet. Turn right, cross the hamlet and reach via Fiano: from here retrace the already seen road to the starting point.

Non-slip sole footwear, wind/rain protection, a warm layer, hat, and sunglasses are recommended.

In the winter period, the paths near the stream can be damp and made even more slippery by the presence of leaves.

From the SP1 "Direttissima della Mandria" turn to Fiano and follow the signs for Varisella.

Varisella is served by BUS COMPANY buses: 226 "Varisella - Torino C.so Giulio Cesare" and 229/1 "Varisella-Ciriè"
Visit the BUS COMPANY website for details

Near the town square

For updates, it is recommended to visit the website of the municipality of Varisella

Visit the "Antiquarium of the Castle of Baratonia" to see the artifacts found near the castle.