Lucento

Journey back to 1706. Imagine Lucento, not as the bustling suburb of Turin we know today, but as a rural landscape dotted with farms and the imposing Lucento Castle. This Lucento was a key strategic point during the siege of Turin. French troops clashed with Savoyard forces right here. The Savoyards fought fiercely to delay the French advance, using Lucento’s strategic position to their advantage. The fighting centered around Lucento Castle and the surrounding area. Its elevated location gave a clear view of the western approaches to Turin. Sadly, the castle was not spared. It was burned during the ensuing retreat. Lucento bears witness to this turbulent past. The very name “Lucento,” some believe, originates from this period. The flashes of bayonets and explosions reportedly lit up the area, making it “lucent” or shining, visible even from Superga. Fast forward to the 14th century. Lucento Castle, as it stood then, was built by the Beccuti family. The castle, with its watchtowers, served as a local stronghold. It later became part of Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia’s hunting estate in the 16th century. It then passed to Filippo I d’Este of San Martino until 1654. Today, it houses various businesses, a reminder of Lucento’s evolution. Near the castle stands the Church of San Bernardo and Santa Brigida. Initially a small chapel built in the 15th century by Ribaldino Beccuti, it was later expanded in 1605 and again in 1654 by Amedeo di Castellamonte. Like the castle, the church also suffered damage during the 1706 siege. Lucento continued to grow. The late 19th century saw the development of roads and a railway connecting it to Pianezza and Venaria Reale. This led to the rise of new settlements like Tetti di Lucento and Borgata Ceronda. The 20th century brought an industrial boom, attracting many to Lucento, especially in the 1950s. While many factories later closed, their remnants, like the 60-meter chimney of the former steelworks, still dot the landscape. Lucento, therefore, is not merely a suburb. It is a living testament to centuries of history, from rural beginnings to wartime battles, industrial growth, and its modern residential character. It’s a place where the past whispers through the stones of the castle and the echoes of battles fought long ago.