Before independence the town was a hamlet of San Giorgio called Gerbo Grande: its people are still the gerbolini, and the nickname says the rest, Tirapere, stone-throwers. At least two centuries of quarrels with the neighbouring town, fought with slings and stones, ended in 1778, when Vittorio Amedeo III signed the separation.
The quarrel went on, because San Giorgio would not let San Giusto have a priest of its own, so as to keep the faithful and their offerings. In 1750, during the procession for the blessing of the fields, a group of gerbolini stole the crucifix from the church of San Giorgio: the curia gave in at last and the relic went back, but the nickname Rubacristi, Christ-thieves, stuck.
Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
Near San Giusto Canavese
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
Places to see within 25 km
Outside San Giusto Canavese, but an easy day trip away.