Cercenasco
A journey through Cercenasco: history, art, and gastronomy
Cercenasco is a small municipality in the metropolitan city of Turin, located in the plains of Pinerolo. With its 1756 inhabitants, this agricultural center is characterized by the presence of small artisanal activities and a valuable artistic and gastronomic heritage.
Cercenasco's artistic heritage
One of Cercenasco's main artistic gems is represented by the frescoes of the Chapel of Sant'Anna. Located within the municipal territory, the chapel was erected by the heirs of Leonetto, a member of the Asinari family who received the feudal investiture from Tommaso I of Savoy in the 13th century. The chapel is adorned with a suggestive cycle of 14th-century frescoes dedicated to the life of St. Anne. In particular, the scene depicting the Annunciation is characterized by a wide vivacity and humanity of the characters, making this representation one of the most interesting in Piedmont.
Cercenasco's gastronomic tradition
But Cercenasco is also famous for its gastronomic tradition. In particular, a typical sweet of the area is the "baciaja", a thin wafer biscuit that uses corn flour as a partial substitute for wheat flour. The baciaja can be chocolate, lemon, hazelnut, and gianduja flavored, and is cooked on a specially created clamp iron.
But it's not just sweets, Cercenasco also boasts a long tradition in the fishing industry. The municipal territory still hosts some specimens of Lampetra fluviatilis, the fish known as agnato, which in the past contributed to the gastronomy of the area.
The Airasca-Villafranca cycling route
Cercenasco's territory is also crossed by the Airasca-Villafranca cycling route, known as the path of Risorgive. This cycling path offers the opportunity to discover the rural landscapes of the Pinerolo plain and to savor the tranquility of a territory rich in history and tradition.
Cercenasco's history
Cercenasco's history is characterized by numerous ownership and investiture passages. The toponym Circinascum derives from circinus, which means circle, and perhaps indicated an enclosure. In the 10th century, Cercenasco was part of the possessions of the Marquis of Susa, while in 1225 it passed to the lords of Asinari.
In the 15th century, part of the fief was brought as dowry by Lady Lucia of Bernezzo to her husband Tommaso, illegitimate son of the Marquis of Saluzzo. Later, the fief passed to the Malabayla family.
During the War of the Grand Alliance, the castle of Cercenasco was destroyed by the French army led by General Nicolas de Catinat de La Fauconnerie, who described the situation in a letter to Louis XIV of France: "the other day we burned Scalenghe and Cercenasco, and since the walls of the castle of the latter town did not collapse with the fire, we brought them down with mines."
In 1797, Carlo Emanuele IV of Savoy abolished feudal constraints at the request of the community of Cercenasco, making the land converted into public property or private property.
In conclusion, Cercenasco is a small town with rustic charm, rich in history, and still alive in its traditions. From sweets to fishing, from cycling paths to artistic attractions: the beautiful Piedmontese village offers the opportunity for an unforgettable journey to discover the authentic beauty of the Italian province.
