The name
The first hypothesis regarding the meaning of the name Garessio has its origin in the Provencal word ilex, “quercia” (oak-tree) from which the word garriguo, “field covered of oaks”, derives.
Another hypothesis is that the name Garessio comes from garricus, “waste land”, which in the presence of a suffix means “passage way”.
It is thanks to some medieval statutes that we know about the Garessio plane and the hill of S. Costanzo, both described as covered in oaks.

History
working in progress

INTO THE BRICCO AND OVER THE BRIDGES
Garessio at the foot of the San Bernardo Hill is an ancient village which winds along slopes and planes and is divided in to different hamlets.
As we are interested in the medieval hamlet of Garessio, called Borgo Maggiore, we will start from via Cavour going south to the ancient tower of Porta Rose which today houses an art gallery.
The oldest part of the village (founded in 1100) was surrounded by walls, towers, posterns and gates of which some traces remain; Porta Rose was its main entrance and was protected by a draw-bridge placed between two towers, the one on the right still exists but is now part of a private property.
Continuing on Via Cavour you arrive at Piazza Carrara, on one side of the square there is Casa Odda with its beautiful medieval façade of stone and brick with large Gothic windows.
On the other side of the square there is the Town Hall built in the XVII century and a square bell-tower with a clock.
Carrying on up the road on the right is Casa Averare, while on the left there is the small square of S. Giovanni, considered one of the most beautiful squares in the whole of Piemonte, the church of the same name is placed at the top of a large staircase and is decorated with 18 lunettes from the second half of XVII century that represent St. John’s life.
At the bottom of the staircase outside the Church you can admire the black and white cobble-stone mosaic flooring designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the famous designer born in Garessio, whose house, Casa Giugiaro, can be found on the right and is decorated with tromp-l’oeils .
Continuing along via Cavour, after a small square in which you can see a building called “Isola di Caprera”, turning left into via Montegrappa you enter the Bricco, a group of houses placed at the foot of the castle hill. Even though it is not in good condition this area is the most interesting: a XVI century building with pinnacles incorporated in the wall is home to the Dominican Tertiary. From this point the steep descent of via Relecca starts, this is the place where the inhabitants came to live during the Saracen occupation of the X century.
Walking through small buildings and country houses (there is one with a wrought iron grate and a beautiful stone portal) you arrive at Porta Jhape: its name derives from the “ciappe” or “lose”, the kind of stone used to cover the roofs in the Bricco. This gate is still connected on the left to the medieval walls which flank Rio S. Mauro.
Above Porta Jhape there is the ancient road used for the salt trade which linked Piemonte and Liguria.
On the right of the bridge is the ancient Church of S. Maria Extra Moenia which rises up with its elegant 1448 bell-tower in Romanesque-Gothic style. The Church was built around the year 1000, it has changed throughout the years but has maintained the Portal which also survived the Napoleonic plunders.
Continuing along the the wall you come across the Parish Church dedicated to Our Lady, the Virgin Mary received into Heaven; this Dominican Monastery was substituted by the present brickwork building (1717-1728) by the architect Francesco Gallo. This church was destroyed by the French but was rebuilt according to the the original plans and was consecrated again in 1878.
In front of the church on the other side of the bridge is Piazza dei Battuti Parvi where you can admire a beautiful Early Middle Age building, with a peculiar octagonal roof, it was a primitive chapel dedicated to S. John the Baptist.
If you continue following the Rio along via Fasiani you first get to Porta Liazoliorum (or Viassolo’s, which was the family who had the power of collecting merchants’ tolls) you can get back to the Town Hall square from here.
If you carry on up Via Cavour you get to the oldest part of Borgo Maggiore, with its typical Medieval façades, similar to that of Casa Martelli, once flanked by shops: the small market square with the fountain and the stone basin stands to witness this.
On the left a steep alley leads to the XII century Castle ruins where it is still possible to observe the Torre dell’Impiccato, “tower of the hanged-man”.
On the right, via Cavour ends at the Provincial road, on the other side of a small bridge is the Chapel of S. Giacomo (XVII)
Crossing this bridge and with your back to the church it is possible to see the Ricetto which is protected by Rio S. Giacomo while on the left is the Torre Clocharium .
Outside Borgo Maggiore it is interesting to visit the Church of S. Caterina di Alessandria in Borgo Ponte, built in 1723 by Francesco Gallo; the church has a peculiar Baroque brickwork façade and inside the 1760 side altars and a 1486 baptisimal font are protected by a XVII century railing.

Local products
Garessio has many local products, such as mushrooms, potatoes, leeks and the typical Garessio chestnut, which is called “gabbiana” . But there is a very simple element that is known all over the world: the mineral water of San Bernardo, a soft water that flows at an altitude of 1300 m. from the Rocciaviva spring. It has been used since Garessio began to be an exclusive tourist resort, thanks also to the reputation of the Grand Hotel Miramonti, today in ruin.
The Fonti San Bernardo park, totally immersed in nature, has been recently restored and a SPA has been included (for information: tel. 0174 82016 – 803145).

Local dishes
working in progress