The Canavese is a historical part of Piedmont, wich is situated between the "Stura di Lanzo", the Dora Baltea river, the Alpi Graie and the river Po; it corresponds to the ancient marca of Ivrea. Its name dates back to 1000 and it seems to derive from an ancient place wich was destroyed near Salassa, near the torrent Orco, called Canava, and not, as has been thought, from the widespread cultivation of hemp. The first owner of this land was the church of Turin and then, around 1000, Guiberto, Count of Pombia and King Arduino (of Ivrea)'s brother; families of the Earls of Biandrate and of Castellamonte, derive from these two historical figures.