Between Stone and the Middle Ages

Torre Pietra is among the most distinctive fortified houses of the Canavese area. As its name suggests, it most closely resembles a tower: it represents one of the few examples with multiple functions, including that of lookout. It is entirely built on a large rock outcrop emerging from the ground.

The structure, reaching a height of 13 meters, is made entirely of local stone, particularly “gneiss occhiadino.” Medieval stonemasons and builders, with great skill and using only basic tools such as mallets, hammers, and chisels, worked the stone with remarkable precision. The cornerstones and stone portals clearly show this craftsmanship.

We must imagine a site full of activity: a construction yard that, to the steady rhythm of hammer and chisel, rose higher as the walls were built. Evidence of this work remains visible today in the putlog holes on the walls, traces of scaffolding built on-site using timber from nearby forests, along with systems of ropes and pulleys used to lift the heavy stones.

Inside the first floor, a band of stones arranged in a herringbone pattern (opus spicatum) is preserved. This distinctive feature is shared by the four most significant fortified houses in the area: it is even more prominent in the fortified houses of Servino, Onsino, and the legendary Pertia.

Opus spicatum, the characteristic “herringbone” pattern, was widely used in Roman and late antique times; in the Middle Ages it was frequently reused in churches and fortified structures such as castles and defensive walls. It can also be found in the remains of the Silvesco castle in Salto, particularly in the curtain walls, as well as in the Carlevato Tower (Torre Rotonda) in Cuorgnè and in many other medieval structures in the region. Its use appears to have both an aesthetic and structural function: according to some scholars, it contributed to strengthening the masonry.

At Torre Pietra, other typical features of fortified houses can be observed, such as niches carved into the walls, here arranged in pairs. In the fortified house of Onsino they appear individually, while in Pianei they occur in series. Moreover, Torre Pietra shares with the fortified house of Pertia the internal wall setbacks: on the third and fourth floors the wall thickness decreases, increasing the interior space.

Before restoration, the tower was in a state of significant decay: the roof was compromised and the internal floors had disappeared. Some portals lacked their original wooden doors, and the windows had lost their shutters.

The intervention included rebuilding the roof using materials consistent with the historical ones. The beams were made of chestnut wood, and the original stone slabs (lose) were reused, preserving the tower’s historic appearance. The top was reinforced with a structural ring beam to improve overall stability.

Inside, chestnut beams and wooden flooring were reinstated, highlighting the perimeter walls and respecting the original structure. New doors were made following the design of the historical ones, and windows were installed in harmony with the building’s aesthetic.

Thanks to these interventions, the tower has regained its structural integrity and historical-architectural value, faithfully preserving the original materials and construction techniques.

• A Fortified House of the Canavese Mountains: The “Castle” of Pertica – Angelo Paviolo

• Mountain Fortified Houses in Upper Canavese. What Future? – Micaela Viglino Davico

• Man in the Middle Ages – Fernando Vittorino