The city of Ivrea, its Castle of the Red Towers, the unique carnival battle of oranges, and the Italian utopia of the 20th century – the Olivetti company. A visit to the castle of Aglie, the residence of the Savoy dynasty and the setting for the series “Elisa from Rivombrosa.”
Ivrea is a small Italian town with a population of 23 thousand people. It is located on the border of two regions, Piedmont and Aosta Valley.
This is a small and cozy town. You will discover a classic red-brick castle, a cathedral in classical style, and a pleasant promenade along the Dora Baltea River, which divides the town into old and new parts.
But once a year, Ivrea is flooded with tourists.
This is because, on the eve of Lent, instead of a Catholic carnival, the Battle of Oranges takes place here. Every year, 200-300 tons of oranges are specially brought in from Sicily, which are used like snowballs in winter. This orange mood attracts tourists like a magnet.
The Cathedral of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary in Ivrea is interesting because in the 4th century AD, there was a pagan temple on its site. In the 9th century, it was rebuilt into a Christian cathedral in the Romanesque style.
The Ivrea Castle – Castello dalle rossi torri, that is, the Castle of the Red Towers. It is located just a stone’s throw from the duomo. The castle was built in 1357 by order of Amadeus VI the Green, Count of Savoy. Originally, the castle had four towers, but only three have survived to this day. It turns out that in 1676, lightning struck the tower that did not survive to us. Unfortunately, it housed a powder magazine, which led to an explosion. The tower was not restored.
The Tower of Saint Stephen is interesting because in the 4th century AD, there was a pagan temple on its site. In the 9th century, it was rebuilt into a Christian cathedral in the Romanesque style. In 1854, its facade was rebuilt in the neoclassical style.
Aglie is a small town located 35 km north of Turin. The main attraction of Aglie is the ancient Castle Castello Ducale, which was once one of the residences of the royal Savoy dynasty. Along with other
royal residences, the castle is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Castello Ducale was built in the 12th century and was originally the property of the Counts of San Martino. In 1706, the building was ravaged and
partially destroyed during the French invasion of Piedmont. Half a century later, it was purchased by Charles Emmanuel III of Savoy, who then sold it to his son Benedetto, who, in turn, took care of restoring the estate. It took ten years for the castle to shine again. Today, the castle attracts attention with its monumental facade featuring two staircases and a fountain. Inside, there are 300 rooms, most of which, however, have not preserved the original royal interiors. The castle is surrounded by huge English and Italian gardens.
The castle is open every day except Monday, December 24-25, January 1, and May 1.
