The name Torrazzo, Celtic-Ligurian in origin, points to an old tower later absorbed into the church belfry, and the arms bear it out: a gold tower with five Guelph merlons between two snow-capped mountains. The village sits on the eastern flank of the Serra morenica di Ivrea, and tradition splits it into three castelli — Castello, Castellazzo and Castelletto — all facing the Biella side: the only Salassi settlement on that flank, hostile to the Victimuli villages below.
Roman tiles, potsherds and gravestones of the first or second century came to light in 1955, during work on the aqueduct at Chiusure. From the war remains the memory of don Francesco Cabrio, parish priest for a month, shot in the back as he stepped in for two village boys seized by the fascists: a monument marks the spot, on the road to Mongrando.
Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
Near Torrazzo
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
Places to see within 25 km
Outside Torrazzo, but an easy day trip away.