Canavese Parks and Nature Reserves Authority manages Sacro Monte di Belmonte Special Nature Reserve, Monti Pelati and Torre Cives Special Nature Reserve, and Vauda Nature Reserve. Belmonte hill has been included in the protected area regional plan for its geological, environmental, landscape, historical-archaeological, and artistic features: it is a mass of red granite which stands out at the entrance of Orco Valley, and is characterized by the prealpine vegetation. In Sacro Monte, you can admire the 13 Chapels of the Way of the Cross. The main features characterizing Pelati Mountains are the small bare hills, the mild microclimate, vegetation, and geology. Its stony and moon-like landscapes, entirely different from the rest of the luxuriant Canavese area, make it almost an ureal place. The territory of Vauda is a river-glacial terrace formed by Stura di Lanzo. It is characterized by very poor soils, mainly used in the past as pastures.
