Portals and Crosses
Architecture and Its Symbols
As can be observed, the north façade is the most visually representative of Torre Pietra, emblematically expressing the stylistic elements of the stone frames typical of alpine fortified houses in the Canavese region.
Starting from the bottom, one can notice the foundation boulder and the raised entrance, about one and a half meters above the current ground level. Originally, the difference in height between the first-floor entrance and the terrain was likely greater. Over the centuries, with changes in space usage and the construction of the farmhouse behind, the ground levels were gradually altered to reach the current configuration.
The first portal features monolithic jambs and two horizontal slabs designed to distribute the weight in the masonry; it is completed with an arch made of regular stones.
The portals on the second and third floors are built with a system of four stone slabs, also integrated with horizontal elements for load distribution. On the second floor, the portal is topped by a triangular-shaped lintel, while on the third floor it is crowned with a semicircular lintel.
The window on the top floor is unique in its kind, not found in other fortified houses in the area: it consists of two vertical jambs topped by a finely worked stone slab with double curvature, forming an elegant and harmonious arch.
All portals, as well as the fourth-floor window, feature Latin crosses engraved in the stone. Their placement on the main façade represents a clear sign of protection and good omen: an apotropaic symbol intended to prevent evil from crossing the threshold and to invoke safeguarding against calamities and disasters.
The Well and the Courtyard
The ancient entrances to the tower open onto the rear courtyard, where, just a few meters from the building, there is a well—today covered with stone slabs—contemporary with the tower itself.
The presence of the well highlights the need to ensure immediate water supply. Originally, it is likely that the tower and courtyard were enclosed by a small wall, now disappeared. This was certainly not a fortification comparable to a castle but rather a nearby defensive enclosure. The existence of minor structures, probably built with perishable materials and now completely lost, cannot be excluded.
Engineer Camillo Boggio, in 1890, in the work Torri, case e castelli nel Canavese, mentions undefined masonry remains.
Historian Antonio Bertolotti, in 1868, seems to refer to Torre Pietra in the book Passeggiate nel Canavese, describing his journey from Chiesanuova to Salto:
“While descending the steep mountain
that leads from Chiesanuova to Salto,
I came across the ruins of a small tower,
perhaps once part of the Salto castle,
if not the remains of the original castle itself.”
Certainly, in this passage, the author describes the mule track known as the “strada della Pietra,” the most direct route from Chiesanuova to Salto, passing just a few dozen meters from the tower. In the following passage, once in the village, Bertolotti mentions the Salto castle, providing a detailed description of what remained.
Today, the original courtyard context is difficult to interpret, as it has been heavily modified over the past fifty years. The construction of the road, which replaced the old mule track, has significantly altered the landscape. According to local elders, at the level of the courtyard there was a wall that raised the courtyard floor by about two meters compared to the path of the mule track.
Bibliography
Caseforti Montane nell’alto Canavese. Quale futuro? – Micaela Viglino Davico
Appunti per una storia di Cuorgnè – Mario Bertolotti
Passeggiate nel Canavese – Antonino Bertolotti
Omaggio a Don Perotti – Compiled by friends of Don Attilio
