Bandito Walk

«It was the end of June, and before long they would harvest the corn, carrying it on their shoulders or with oxen to the farmyards, then the oxen would pull the big threshing machine up the hills, bumping into the branches. Much cursing in those days, and much dust and wine and vegetable soup with pork in it to add some flavour». 
G. Arpino, “L’uomo sulla sdraio” - da “Opere” (Rusconi, 1991)

The starting point is located outside the town, in the hamlet of Bandito, where the hills give way to the plains towards Turin. From Piazza Caduti e Dispersi di Tutte le Guerre (parking is possible at the railway station), turn left and follow a short stretch of Strada Gallotto to the junction with Via Visconti Venosta.

Here you turn left and then immediately right and climb to the top. Continue to the right onto Via Professor Cravero, which you follow to the end and then turn left onto Strada Terrapini, and continue along it, crossing Via Don Luigi Orione at the traffic lights, and then up a few hairpin bends.

At the junction with Strada Pennaccini, turn right (towards Località Gotta) and continue until the road becomes a dirt track and enters the forest. Follow the path until you leave the wooded section and join the dirt road of Strada Cavallasso, which then becomes asphalted again. Once at the crossroads with Strada San Matteo, turn left and continue downhill on the local stretch of the S1 - Grande Sentiero del Roero, until you reach the crossroads with Strada Valle. This stretch is part of the Protection Area of the Woods and Rocche del Roero, an area featuring a blend of agricultural activities and woods, where it is possible to spot the vegetation and fauna typical of the Roero.

At the junction with Strada Valle, turn left and continue for about 2 km, then turn left again and cross the course of the Rio Ripoglia or Rio di Sanfré (please be careful as there may be high water during the most rainy periods). Continue until you reach a fork in the road, where you must turn left and climb for about 400 metres, then turn left again. Here you find the asphalt road again, and turn left onto Strada della Cicala. Continue until you reach Strada Terrapini again and follow it along the original outward path as you go back to the starting point.