Overview
Ivrea is a compact Piedmontese town of 23,000 people that punches above its weight with UNESCO-listed modernist architecture and one of Italy's most unusual festivals. The Olivetti factory complex, designed by leading 20th-century Italian architects, makes it a pilgrimage site for design enthusiasts, while the February Carnival Orange Festival draws crowds with its theatrical citrus warfare.
Architecture · Culture · Day Trips · Festivals · History
Before you go
Architecture
Ivrea's Olivetti factory and surrounding buildings are UNESCO World Heritage Site, representing 20th-century Italian modernist urban planning.
Festivals
The February Orange Festival is Ivrea's signature event: teams throw oranges from horse-drawn carts, spectators wear red Phrygian caps (Berretto frigio) to show solidarity.
Food
Try Torta 900 (rich chocolate cake) at Pasticceria Balla and Eporediesi biscuits at Panetteria Bonelli. Carnival season brings Arancia della Mugnaia.
Nature
Small lakes at the foot of the Alps near Ivrea are used for swimming in summer.
Transport
Ivrea railway station (Stazione di Ivrea) on Corso Nigra 73 connects to Turin and Aosta train lines. Buses serve surrounding Canavese towns.