The best gravel rides around Traversella

View of the Dondena hut

The Burnel is an ancient cup-marked stone located halfway along Via Maestra, the road that crosses the center of Nomaglio. On its surface, the cup marks engraved in prehistoric times are still visible, small hemispherical cavities whose exact function remains a subject of debate among scholars — perhaps linked to propitiatory rites or cult practices. In more recent times, the stone was adapted into a fountain, with a basin carved out for water, and on the stone, you can also observe the grooves left by the blades and knives that the villagers used to come here to sharpen. The name "burnel" indicates precisely this: a fountain with a stone basin. It is an object that, in a few square centimeters, tells of centuries of daily use superimposed on prehistoric traces, and has accompanied the life of the village for times much older than the stone houses with the typical Canavese arches that surround it.

The stone bridge of Lillianes, completed in 1733, represents a hydraulic work of exceptional value for the Lys Valley, being the only historic bridge in the region structured on four round arches. The choice of this configuration, supported by robust piers equipped with cut-water spurs, was dictated by the need to span a section of the Lys stream particularly subject to violent floods. The roadway, made with a characteristic donkey-back shape in local stone, hosts a votive shrine dedicated to Saint Roch in the center, historically placed to protect travelers against pestilences. A relevant anecdote concerns the complex financing of the work: the local community, in order not to depend exclusively on central subsidies, chose to heavily tax themselves through the "taglioni" system, a form of mandatory contribution based on land ownership. It is said that the families of the village contributed not only with money but also by providing labor and materials, as the bridge was considered vital for the economy linked to the chestnut trade and transhumance. Another curious detail concerns its incredible resistance: during past floods, while other wooden or lighter structures were swept away, the bridge of Lillianes remained intact, consolidating its fame as an indestructible monument and a symbol of unity for the entire valley population.

Place of worship and for those seeking peace.

The Champrocher Royal Road is a charming historical route commissioned in the 18th century by the House of Savoy. It connected the valley floor with the hunting lodges, facilitating the travel of the nobility and their entourage. Today, it is a beautiful path immersed in greenery, with stone sections and splendid panoramic views of the valley.

Nomaglio is a small but pleasant, characteristic village that deserves a quick stop and a bike ride.

The Church of Sant’Andrea Apostolo has a neoclassical façade dominated by four Ionic columns leading to a triangular tympanum.

Arrival time is 7:30 PM (dinner time). In the morning, rooms can be vacated at 9:30 AM. It's located along the mule track leading to Lake Miserin, making it very convenient. The facility is spacious, with both smaller rooms and mixed dormitories. They have showers, unlike other refuges in the area, and this is a plus. Good food and very friendly service. Prices are average for the area: a dorm with half board costs €56 per person, a private room €70 per person.