Druento
Welcome to Druento!
Hello everyone! Today we're talking about Druento, a municipality of 8836 inhabitants in the metropolitan city of Turin, in Piedmont. Its original toponym, "Druent", means "very fertile". Let's discover together its geography and history, as well as its monuments and the most interesting places to visit!
Physical geography
Druento is located on a plain that slopes gently towards the hills of the Givoletto mountains and the plain that is home to Turin. It is one of the suburbs to the west of the city. The Ceronda stream runs through the city center and converges here with the Casternone, another stream. Druento has several zones and villages, and its historic center is well visible, with its ancient buildings in contrast to the newer areas with condominiums. We share with other municipalities the La Mandria regional park, a true gem of nature!
History
Druento has an ancient history, which begins in 1196, when Henry, lord of the Viscontea of Baratonia, refers to the name "Druent" in a document that talks about a monastery donation. In 1263, six lords pledged to build a village beyond the Ceronda stream, as a shelter in case of interruption of communications with Turin. The Aynardi brothers built a castle on the hill overlooking the village, and around it houses and other structures will rise. Later, the church of San Michele was built next to the castle, and the enclosing walls were raised that circumscribe the banks of the canals and ditches dug to protect the village from enemy attacks. In the fifteenth century, the fiefdom passed into the hands of the Alaxini-d'Alascio family, and Giacomo de Alaxio, rector of the University of Toulouse, sold part of the fiefdom to Duke Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy in 1755.
Monuments and places of interest
If you visit Druento, don't miss these places of interest!
- The Church of San Michele Arcangelo is the largest and most solemn in Druento and is located on the hill behind the castle. From here you can admire a splendid view of the city!
- The Church of Santa Maria della Stella preserves the statue of the Madonna with Child by Carlo Giuseppe Plura, a work from 1705.
- The Church of San Sebastiano, in the historic center, is very interesting to visit, with carved wood and frescoes from the seventeenth century.
- The Castle of the Lakes, in the La Mandria Park, is a truly suggestive building, built in the eighteenth century by the Marquis of Brosso. Today it is used as a venue for cultural events and exhibitions.
- La Bizzarrìa is a large public park that extends over the territory of Druento and offers many ideas for walks and outdoor picnics.
- The Church of San Giuliano di Brioude is inside the Park of La Mandria, just a few steps from Cascina Rubianetta and the International Horse Center. Of thirteenth-century origin, it preserves precious fifteenth-century frescoes.
- Finally, you cannot miss the educational complex of Druento, with the Anna Frank elementary school and the Don Lorenzo Milani middle school. The complex, surrounded by meadows and trees, is an oasis of tranquility in a predominantly residential area.
Conclusions
We are happy to have introduced you to Druento, a municipality rich in history and natural beauty. We hope you can visit it soon and discover all the wonders it offers in person!
