Caselle Torinese

Access

Caselle Torinese is well connected to the rest of Piedmont. The 'Città di Torino' airport connects the area to numerous Italian and European destinations. The local railway station, on the Turin-Ceres line, provides a direct connection to the capital, while the Turin-Aosta motorway and the provincial road network complete road accessibility. A network of urban and suburban public transport facilitates connections with neighbouring municipalities and Turin, making Caselle a dynamic node between the city, countryside and mountains.

Introduction

Caselle Torinese is a municipality located in the northern Piedmont plain, about 14 kilometres from Turin, in a flat area crossed by waterways such as the Stura di Lanzo. Its territory, although set in a context of great infrastructural development, maintains large green and agricultural areas that bear witness to a rural past that is still legible. Its origins go back to the Roman period, a period to which the first documented settlements date back, and the place name itself may derive from 'caselle', small country dwellings. Today, Caselle is best known for hosting the 'Città di Torino' international airport, an element that has strongly characterised its economic and urban evolution. Its cultural and historical relevance is reflected in its religious architecture, civic buildings and a collective memory that is still alive, preserved among archives, traditional festivals and glimpses of the historic centre.

Description

The territory of Caselle Torinese covers almost 29 km² in the north-western part of the Torinese plain, with an average altitude of 277 metres. The natural environment is dominated by agricultural areas, hedges and residual groves that accompany watercourses, including the Stura and Ceronda torrents. The proximity to the Alps, visible on the horizon on clear days, lends depth to the landscape. Despite urban development, especially in the northern area occupied by the airport site, elements of rurality persist, with historic farmsteads and a countryside still active in agricultural production.

The history of Caselle is rich in layers. The first archaeological finds from Roman times, including a brick tomb from the 1st century AD, emerged in the area now occupied by the airport. In the Middle Ages, the village acquired strategic importance along the trade routes to the Lanzo Valleys, changing hands between the Lombards, the Franks and the local dynasties. Its position made it disputed between the Houses of Savoy and Monferrato. The castle, whose origins date back to the 10th century, was at the centre of these events: the residence of marquises and nobles, it was renovated several times, until it became a fief of the Roncas family and, in modern times, leased by Charles Albert to Count Bianco of Barbania. Piazza Boschiassi, where the castle stands, remains the symbolic heart of the village.

The economy of Caselle has undergone a remarkable evolution: from medieval agriculture and crafts, to the flourishing paper industry that exploited the purity of the waters of the Stura. Local paper mills, already active since the 12th century, distinguished themselves in the production of watermarked paper and stamp paper, achieving a reputation that transcended regional borders. In the 15th century, with the arrival of printing, Caselle also became an important printing centre. Today, the economy relies on the airport hub, active since 1953, and the presence of Aeritalia, the only major industry in the area. Agriculture resists, albeit modernised, alongside small manufacturing activities.

The artistic and cultural wealth of the municipality is reflected in its religious buildings. The Parish Church of Santa Maria Assunta, documented since 1252, has undergone various transformations, with a Renaissance façade and a bell tower modified for airport requirements. The interior houses valuable works of art, including a large canvas by Morgari. The Church of St. John the Evangelist, dating back to the 12th century, and the Church of the Battuti, built in the 18th century by the confraternity of Santa Croce, tell the story of the spiritual and architectural evolution of the village. The town hall itself is housed in a former 17th-century Servi di Maria convent and contains a table attributed to the school of Spanzotti.

Popular traditions are kept alive through patronal festivals, such as that of San Vittore, and gastronomic festivals, which celebrate local dishes including bagna cauda. Craftsmanship is underdeveloped today, but carpentry and restoration workshops survive. Caselle is also an interesting starting point for nature and cultural itineraries. The banks of the Stura and Ceronda rivers offer easy routes, surrounded by greenery, while a short distance away are the Lanzo Valleys, with their alpine paths. The historical centre preserves valuable views, such as Via Torino and the frescoed chapels like the Madonnina chapel, in which 18th-century works of an as yet uncertain school, but probably traceable to 15th- and 16th-century Piedmontese masters, can be seen.

The Caselle territory extends across the Turin plain, with a landscape characterised by cultivated fields and small watercourses, including the aforementioned Ceronda. The modest altitude (about 300 metres) and proximity to the Alps provide striking views, especially on clear days, when the mountains provide a backdrop to the vast agricultural spaces. Despite the presence of modern infrastructures, such as the airport, the surrounding countryside retains a rural appearance, with historic farmsteads and rows of poplars outlining the landscape.
The origins of Caselle probably date back to Roman times, as some archaeological finds suggest, but it was in the Middle Ages that the village gained importance as a transit point along trade routes. In the 18th century, with the rise of Turin as the Savoy capital, Caselle became an important agricultural centre, with a flourishing production of wheat and fodder. Among the historical figures linked to the town is the painter Guglielmo Caccia, known as Moncalvo, who left some works here.
Today's economy is strongly linked to the presence of the airport, which represents an important employment hub, but also to agriculture and small industry. Local companies are active in the engineering and food sectors, with typical products such as Piedmontese cheeses and DOC wines from the nearby hills of Turin. Tourism, although not predominant, benefits from the strategic location for those wishing to visit Turin or reach the nearby Lanzo Valleys.
Local culture and traditions are expressed through festivals such as the Bagna Cauda Festival, celebrating one of Piedmont's iconic dishes, and the Patronal Feast of St John the Baptist, with processions and stalls. Handicrafts, while not particularly developed, still boast a few carpentry and restoration workshops.
For nature lovers, Caselle offers pleasant walks along the banks of the Ceronda river or in the town parks, while those seeking more challenging excursions can quickly reach the Lanzo Valleys, with their mountain trails. A curiosity: the name 'Caselle' is said to derive from the Latin casella, meaning small houses, testifying to the humble rural origins of the village.

Information

Area: 28.69km²
Altitude: 277m
Maximum elevation:not relevant (municipality in the plains)
Number of inhabitants: 13,739 as of 31.12.2024
Name in dialect: Casèle
Name in dialect: casellesi
Patron Saint: San Vittore
Bordering municipalities: Borgaro Torinese, Leini, Robassomero, San Maurizio Canavese,  Settimo Torinese, Venaria Reale, 
Website: www.comune.caselle-torinese.to.it