By bike, the Route of Don Bosco starts from the basilica of Maria Ausiliatrice in the Valdocco district of Turin, the original home of the Salesians in the city. This church has symbolic importance for the Salesians and houses the remains of St John Bosco. The Route leads to the Colle Don Bosco in Castelnuovo Don Bosco, in the heart of Monferrato Astigiano.
This is one of the three possible ways to do the Route of Don Bosco, with a medium difficulty level, given the climb at the Colle dell'Eremo to 625 m. On the route you will discover places that evoke memories of the saint’s childhood, education and study.
The churches, oratories, little villages, paths, farms and schools along the way preserve the memory of the man who developed his authentic spirituality and educational methods here.
Start from the basilica of Maria Ausiliatrice in Turin, at Via Maria Ausiliatrice 32. Head along Via Milano and Via Pietro Micca, which leads to a crossing by the church of San Tommaso. Carry on towards the splendid Piazza Castello then take Via Po, where you can see the churches of San Francesco da Paola and the Santissima Annunziata. Then come to the large Piazza Vittorio Veneto and pass the bridge over the Po opposite the church of the Gran Madre di Dio. The bike route continues along Corso Moncalieri as far as Parco Giacomo Leopardi, on the left, where Strada Antica di San Vito begins. Carry on towards the woods Bosco di Val Salice and Bosco del Colle della Maddalena on the Rombon path. You come to the Eremo dei Camaldolesi, where the saint would rest after the tiring climb. This is the start of a short downward stretch to the climb in the Bric Rosero area. Then there’s a section of the GTC (Great Turin Hill Crossing) trails up to Pino Torinese. From here, take Via Podio then Strada della Moglia and finally Strada della Luigina to Chieri.
Don Bosco spent 10 years of his life in this town, studying, working and acquiring the experiences that formed his extraordinary personality. He founded the San Luigi Salesian Oratory here. After any visit you may wish to make, proceed along Via Buttigliera to the village of San Giovanni di Riva di Chieri.
St Dominic Savio, a young pupil of Don Bosco was born in a house here on 2 April 1842. Since 1987, this farmhouse has been home to a centre that offers hospitality to groups of young people and pilgrims passing through.
The route continues along Strada della Martina, Sentiero dei Cavalli and Strada Bosco del Conte to the end of the route, the shrine on Colle Don Bosco.
After visiting the shrine, if you wish you can make an extra trip to nearby Capriglio and visit the museum of Mamma Margherita, featuring a wealth of pictures, ex-votos and documents.
The museum is dedicated to the life of Margherita Occhiena, St Giovanni Bosco’s celebrated mother, born in Capriglio in 1788. It’s the story of a mother with humble, peasant roots who follows her son to Turin and pursues the work of the Oratories together with him. These structures were built and organised to house street children and offer them a future.