Torretta Bridge in Richiaglio and Biolai Chapel
Historic bridge and chapel on the Richiaglio Stream.
The humpback bridge, built in the eighteenth century in stone over the Richiaglio stream, dominates the landscape near the erratic boulder "la Torretta". A short distance away, the Chapel of the Holy Shroud and Saint Joseph, with a single nave and covered by a barrel vault, bears witness to local devotion and traditional architecture in stone and lose (stone slates).
Site overview
Built in the eighteenth century, in stone and with a humpback shape, over the Richiaglio stream (from Rì Ciair = Clear Stream). Nearby is the erratic boulder called “la Torretta”, used as a rock climbing wall. A short distance from the bridge is the Chapel of the Holy Shroud and Saint Joseph. The chapel has small dimensions, with a quadrangular plan and a single nave, covered by a lunetted barrel vault. The structure is load-bearing in local stone masonry, plastered internally and on the facade, while the side elevations are exposed stone. The roof is double-pitched, with a wooden structure and a covering mantle in lose (stone slates). The facade, facing south-west, has a gabled front, with a central door flanked by two windows equipped only with grates. Above the door, a marble plaque bears the date of construction and the name of the founder.
How to visit the site
To reach the Torretta Bridge, from Provincial Road 32 from Viù, turn left following the signs for Col Del Lys, Provincial Road 197. After about 15 minutes by car, from a hairpin bend turn left following the sign for Richiaglio. Descend the narrow and sloping road to the hamlet, continue on the same dirt road until the Torretta Bridge, which will be on the right. The church, instead, is located in the hamlet named "Biolai", in an isolated position, reachable only on foot from the path that starts from the Torretta Bridge, downstream of the hamlet of Bertesseno, along the mule track that once connected the Viù valley with the locality of Baratonia. From the Torretta Bridge, continue for a few meters on the dirt road. Shortly before a modern bridge, follow the signs for Case Biolai. The Biolai locality and the Chapel of the Holy Shroud and Saint Joseph (45.20108697529817, 7.396258999999998) are reached after a few minutes of walking on a well-marked path. Nearby, also the Richiaglio Cliff.
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