Ivrea, is situated on the hill “La Serra”, dominated by the 4 towers of the Castle of Arduino, built in 1358 by Amedeo IV of Savoy, today used as a venue for events and exhibitions.
The ancient city of Eporedia, is located in the Canavese, a hilly area on the border with the Gran Paradiso Park, of which Ivrea is considered the capital. The river Dora Baltea, channeled in the so-called “Naviglio di Ivrea“, gently crosses the city offering romantic and unexpected views.
What to See in Ivrea
1 Through the Streets of Ivrea’s Historic Center
The streets of the historic center of Ivrea, the stage of the orange battle during the days of the famous Ivrea Carnival, lead our visit towards the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, built in the 4th century AD on the remains of an ancient Roman temple dedicated to Apollo. We continue to Castle Square, which was once the seat of the Monastery of Santa Chiara (1310), surrounded by the Cathedral Bell Towers, the Bishop’s Palace, the Clerical Palace, the Chapter Cloister, the library and the Civic Museum headquarters; the Giacosa Theater of 1834, in neoclassical style, restored in 1958 on the 150th anniversary of the Ivrea Carnival; the Town Hall, seat of the Municipality of Ivrea since 1758, with the curious depiction of the hemp plant on the central tower, confirming the hypothesis that the name “Canavese” derives from the cultivation of this plant.
2 Roman Amphitheater of Ivrea
The Ivrea Amphitheater was built around the middle of the 1st century AD, outside the walls, along the road to Vercelli. It is estimated that it could hold from ten to fifteen thousand spectators. Of this ancient monument, which extends for about 65 meters in length, the foundations of the walls remain, particularly the elliptical outer perimeter wall and the lateral replacement walls (an archaeological term indicating a wholly or partly subterranean structure to support an overlying building). Several underground tunnels where fighting animals were kept can also still be identified. The Eporedian amphitheater was uncovered at the beginning of 1955 and, during excavation work, many fresco fragments and a long section of bronze cladding for the podium seat backs were found. To build the amphitheater, the Romans demolished a pre-existing villa, of which some archaeological remains are visible today. Coins, amphorae, statue fragments, and painted plaster remains were found here.
The road from the amphitheater leading to ancient Eporedia retained the direction of the Via delle Gallie, which directly connected Rome with territories beyond the Alps. Eporedia was therefore an obligatory passage and became an important commercial center; consequently, the population increased significantly. The city thus expanded, especially during the imperial period, beyond the walls, mainly in the eastern part, which was more suitable for new settlements. New districts arose throughout the area between the amphitheater and the Porta Praetoria, documented both by medieval sources and archaeological excavations. A predominantly commercial area was discovered north of the Porta Praetoria.
3 Ivrea to Visit: the Castle
The imposing Ivrea Castle, located in the upper part of the city, is called by Giosuè Carducci the “castle of the red towers.”
The powerful building – square plan with a large courtyard and reinforced at the corners by slender cylindrical towers, the largest of which was severely damaged in 1676 by lightning – was built in 1358 on commission by Amadeus VI of Savoy for defensive purposes. The complex in which it was included encompassed the principal seats of medieval political and religious power: the Municipality, the Episcopal Chapter, and the Church. Significantly modified in subsequent years, from 1750 to 1970, the entire structure was used as a prison and completely stripped of all precious interior furnishings.
At the end of 2017, it was permanently transferred to municipal ownership with the cultural federalism process. The transfer from the state to the territory is the result of a teamwork effort between the State Property Agency, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, and the Municipality of Ivrea, which enabled the elaboration of a program for valorization and conservative restoration of the asset of great historical-artistic value. The castle’s redevelopment is also part of a broader project for tourism development involving the entire system of Eporedian cultural assets.
4 What to Do in Ivrea: the Ivrea Carnival, the Orange Battle
The Ivrea Carnival is recognized as an Italian event of international importance. Known mostly for the spectacular orange battle held every year for three days in the main squares of the city, this carnival is actually an event characterized by the complex ceremony culminating in the Historical Parade, full of historical-legendary evocations drawing on different historical periods: from medieval popular uprisings to the Napoleonic era, from the 18th century up to the Risorgimento uprisings. It is precisely in the Risorgimento period that the character of the Charming Miller’s Wife was born, a symbol of freedom and heroine of the festival who, accompanied by the Napoleonic General, is the female protagonist of the oldest carnival in Italy.
