Cirié, about 18 km northwest ofTurin, is located at the end of theLanzo valleys, close to a plateau called "Vauda", a Celtic origin term indicating a forest. The area is close to theStura di Lanzo, a creek which flows west northwest of the city.
The area around Cirié, since about the third century BC, was inhabited by theSalassi, aCeltic tribe settlement. Before the Roman rule, according toPolybius, this area was covered in thick forests, with very few glades, some small villages and sparse tracks linking the settlements. In 143 BC, theRomans, led by consulAppius Claudius Pulcher (consul 143 BC), moved against the tribes living in theOrco andDora Baltea valleys, to open a way towardsElvetia andGaul. The Romans thought of a fast victory, but the Celtic tribes fought back with such a strength that the legions had initially to retreat. For this reason, the Romans set up several camps, for a better control of roads and adjacent areas.Castra were set up in the current neighbors ofIvrea,Turin and Cirié, where the soldiers could easily control access to theLanzo valleys. Thecastrum stativum (permanent camp) in the Cirié area was calledCastra Cerreti, deriving this name from theturkish oak (Quercus Cerri), an oak tree whose forests were abundant in the neighbors. In later years, it became known asCerretum for short. Thedecumanus maximus (orvia principalis), of the ancient castrum roughly coincides with via Vittorio Emanuele II, the current main street. After the complete defeat of theSalassi and the peace treaties, the castrum rapidly became a main business crossroads and several houses, initially wooden then in bricks and stones, were built around the military camp.
WhenChristianity expanded in theRoman Empire, Cirié picked upCyriacus (martyrized in Rome in 303) aspatron saint, due to the similarity of his name with the ancient castrum denomination. The famous Il celebreTheatrum Statuum Sabaudiae (1682, a sort of guide of the Savoy territories) gives a long and detailed description of Cirié ("Septimo Taurinense ad Urbe lapide, Septentrionem versus, non longe ab Alpium Graiarum radicibus, occurrit Ciriacum Oppidum, insigne Marchionatus titulo, qui sub se S.Mauritium, Nolas & Robasomerium minora Oppida comprehendit") and cites the probable origin of the village name as being related to the martyr ("Pedemontanis dicitur Cirié, fortasse a peculiari Incolarum erga Divum Cyriacum Martyrem cultu, cujus festum s.Idus Augusti inibi summa celebritate recolitur"). Roman presence in Cirié is testified by several Roman coins, shards of vases and funerarystele (preserved in the San Martino church).
Starting from theFall of the Western Roman Empire and thebarbaric invasions, there are no further information on Cirié for almost a millennium: the next historical fact known is the occupation of Cirié's area by theMarquis of Montferrat in 1229. In 1296 Marguerite ofSavoy marriedJohn I, Marquess of Montferrat, getting ruling rights over the territories ofCaselle, Cirié and Lanzo.When her husband died prematurely, Marguerite moved into the great Castle of Cirié, a big fortress standing where nowadays is the piazza Castello. The coming of Marguerite to Cirié (1306), is celebrated with thePalio dei Borghi, a medieval festival held every two years with tournaments and games.Marguerite began great works in the castle, which rapidly became one of the most renowned mansions of the area, with nobles visiting from all over Europe. The many servants coming along with the nobles were hosted by the citizens of Cirié and Marguerite issued "patenti", important acknowledgments of their service to the Marquess. Marguerite also cut taxes and commanded a weekly market to be held each Friday, a commercial venue which attracted many people and business from the neighbors. This market is still held today. The castle was destroyed during the French invasion of 1536 and the few remains were completely scattered about 1900 when the square was "modernized". Some friezes, the only remains of the once powerful castle, are now preserved in the San Martino church.
In 1576 theSavoy family exchanged the Cirié area for an access to the sea with theDoria Marquis ofGenoa: Gian Gerolamo D'Oria established his residence in Cirié, starting the long dynasty (the D'Oria e del Maro di Cirié) which ruled the city till the last Marquis Emanuele D'Oria, who became the first mayor when Cirié, in force of a royal decree, is established a "city" in 1905.
San Giovanni Battista (known as the Duomo although it is not acathedral church), dates from the 14th century, but the place has been dedicated to worship since the Romans settled in the area. Most probably a temple of the goddessDiana was erected in this very place. A series of Christian churches were then established on the site of the former temple. The current church, in a bright PiedmonteseGothic architecture, has three naves. It has been heavily restored in the late 1800s with some arguable Byzantine flavor byEdoardo Arborio Mella and the facade has been used a model for the church in theBorgo Medievale (Medieval village), a replica of medieval mountain castles of Piedmont and Aosta Valley, built inTurin for the International Exhibition of 1884. for the International Exhibition of 1884. The church has a four-floor bell tower with mullioned windows. The interior houses aMadonna del Popolo fromDefendente Ferrari's workshop, a wonderful Byzantine-school crucifix (12th-13th centuries) and atriptych by Giuseppe Giovenone da Vercelli (1531) so beautiful that it is said kingCarlo Alberto offered 4000 lire to have it in the royal art collectionSabauda Gallery, but the people of Cirié refused.
Palazzo dei Marchesi D'Oria, built in the 17th century over a pre-existing building of the Provana family dating back to the 16th century. The restored palace had a vast park behind it, with a small lake and a tower where the ice formed on the lake in winter was cut and stored to be used during the hottest months. When the D'Oria family was extinguished in the male line (beginning of 1900), the palace and the park were acquired by the healthy Remmert family. The palace became the seat of the city government ("municipio") while the park became a residential area (still known as the "Parco"). The House of Savoy had an apartment reserved inside the palace, when the king and his entourage came to Cirié for their hunting sessions.
Church of San Giuseppe was built as a votive offering during the 1630−31 plague. The church is in a delicate piedmonteseBaroque architecture and has a beautifulaltarpiece attributed toDefendente Ferrari.
Chiesa di San Martino (di Liramo), the oldest church of Cirié, in aRomanesque style, was probably built in the early 10th century. Several times restored, it now has two small naves with semi-circular apses and a massive seven floor bell tower with mullioned windows. Most of the church is built with river stones and bricks. There are several partly remaining frescoes of different times. One remarkable part of Adam and Eve after the original sin on the arch of the major apse is partly covered by remains of a scene from a probable Last Judgement. A badly damaged RomanesqueChrist Pantocrator is on the major apse. In the southern nave, there are some remains of frescoes devoted to the Virgin Mary as well as aSaint Martin of Tours, whom the church is dedicated, probably dating around 14th century. The church also preserves some Roman tombstones.
