Ciriè

Access

The town is well connected thanks to the Turin-Ciriè-Lanzo railway and the provincial road network. The presence of the nearby railway station, together with efficient public services, makes it easy to reach for both residents and visitors.

Introduction

Ciriè is an important urban centre in Piedmont located in Canavese, about 21 kilometres north-west of Turin, within the metropolitan city. This town lies on a flat area along the eastern bank of the Stura di Lanzo river, at an average altitude of 344 metres, and covers an area of almost 18 square kilometres. The town has a compact urban structure, is recognised as one of the most dynamic poles in the area, and is characterised by the presence of important historical and architectural testimonies, including its articulated medieval centre and numerous sacred buildings. Its name, attested since the Middle Ages, may derive from 'Castrum Cerreti', a designation linked to the turkey oak forests that once dominated the area, or from 'Ciriacum', in reference to St. Ciriaco, the town's patron saint, celebrated annually on 8 August.

Description

Ciriè was originally settled by the Salassi, a pre-Roman Celtic population; Romanisation dates back to the 2nd century B.C., when the encampment (Castrum Cerreti) became a strategic point for connections with Gaul. In the Middle Ages it came into the orbit of the Marquises of Monferrato, then, thanks to dynastic strategies, passed under the Savoys in the 13th century and was finally given to the Dorias in the 16th century. Among the most significant historical figures is Margherita of Savoy, who promoted important restoration works on the ancient town castle, which no longer exists. The 19th century marked the definitive entry into modernity thanks to the Turin-Ciriè railway, activated in 1869, which consolidated the municipality's role as an economic and commercial crossroads.
The territory includes the main town and the hamlets of San Pietro and Vastalla. The surrounding landscape, strongly shaped by the presence of the Stura di Lanzo river and the hilly offshoots towards the Lanzo Valley, shows a still clearly legible agricultural mesh on the edges of the urbanised area. The environment is furrowed by watercourses and traditional crops, while the rural areas preserve historic nuclei and significant architecture.
The economic fabric of Ciriè today is varied: alongside tertiary activities and light industry, an agricultural and craft component survives. Paper production, documented at least since the 14th century, has long marked the local identity, along with woodworking and agribusiness. Agriculture, once prevalent, has been progressively reduced by urban expansion, but persists in some hamlets and the surrounding countryside.
The historic centre of Ciriè retains intact its medieval imprint, visible in the street layout, porticoes and 15th-century houses decorated in terracotta. Via Vittorio Emanuele II is the main street axis and is flanked by historic shops and noble palaces. Prominent among the buildings is Palazzo Doria, built in the 17th century on the ruins of the medieval castle and now the town hall, with fine frescoed rooms and a garden reminiscent of the style of Piedmontese aristocratic residences.
Numerous are the religious buildings: the Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista, an example of Piedmontese Gothic architecture, preserves 15th-century mosaics and frescoes as well as important works of art. The Church of San Giuseppe, built as a vow against the plague in the 17th century, houses valuable altarpieces, as do the Church of San Martino and the Chapel of Santa Maria di Spinarano, decorated with valuable pictorial cycles. Among the minor places of worship, the Church of the Madonna delle Nevi, the Church of the Madonna di Loreto and the Church of the Santo Sudario add depth to the town's religious and cultural panorama.
Ciriè is also a gateway to the Lanzo valleys and the neighbouring hillside areas, a starting point for nature itineraries and historical-religious routes of regional interest. 

Information

Area: 17.79 km²
Altitude: 344m
Maximum elevation: flat area (no major relief)
Number of inhabitants: 18.073 (1 January 2025)
Name in dialect: Siriè
Inhabitants' name: Ciriacesi
Patron Saint: San Ciriaco, 8 August
Neighbouring towns: Nole, Robassomero, San Carlo Canavese, San Maurizio Canavese
Website: www.comune.cirie.to.it