🟢GT.P 17 The Way of the Orchids

Loop route - ~15 km - Difficulty: Medium/difficult

In the Oltre Collina Torinese, within the Biosphere Reserve of the UNESCO MaB Program, Collina Po-recognized for its extraordinary balance of nature, culture and human presence-runs one of the richest routes in Pistaaa, The Piedmont Blue Way.

The Orchid Way (GT.P 17) is a ring of about 15 km that runs mainly between the municipalities of Berzano di San Pietro and Aramengo, crossing in part also the territory of Albugnano, in a hilly landscape of great value where millenary history, authentic naturalness and breathtaking views intertwine pedaling after pedaling.

The name of this itinerary comes from the green heart of Berzano di San Pietro: the Orchid Wood, is a rare and precious corner of biodiversity, where rare species bloom, including the orchid Orchis incarnata, silent testimony to an ecosystem that is still intact.

The itinerary touches two of the most beautiful Romanesque churches in the area between the Po and Monferrato: the church of San Giovanni Battista in Berzano di San Pietro and the country chapel of San Giorgio in Aramengo, in the hamlet of Masio. The latter, recently restored, preserves intact the Romanesque apse dating back to the 12th-13th centuries, with three elegant single-lancet windows with light-colored stone arches and ancient graffiti engraved on the wall attesting to the presence of the medieval cemetery.

The route offers remarkable panoramic viewpoints over the hills of the Monferrato Astigiano, with glimpses that on clear days open up to the Alpine arc. An authentic landscape of forests, vineyards and silent villages tells of the more intimate character of this corner of Piedmont.

Technical features

The route is suitable for mountain bikes with good training or e-bikes, in view of the gradients-sometimes with steep slopes-and the dirt surface that in some sections requires attention and mastery of the vehicle.

This itinerary connects to GT.P 06 - The Way of the Hills, expanding the possibilities of exploration of the Pistaaa network, The Piedmont Blue Way in the Turin Beyond Hills.

💡 Have you ridden GT.P 17? Share your experience, upload your photos and notify us of any updates on the trail-the network is improving together. Download the GPX track.