Weekend in Val Soana. Feast of San Besso

Weekend in Val Soana. Feast of San Besso

Two days in Val Soana for the annual festival of San Besso, which takes place in both August and December.

Live two days immersed in uncontaminated nature, among culture, traditions and authentic flavors of the mountains with local guides.

On the first day we will tell you about engravings that tell us about faith in nature and powerful energy, of “masche” (this is how witches are called here), women of a thousand knowledge; of countesses in love, of soldiers returning from war and of happy and free children.

We will discover Tiglietto together, this hamlet in the sun, with an ancient flavor and a splendid panorama. And then… we will visit the old mountain school with its original desks and its memories.

In the afternoon we will visit the town of Ronco and discover the particular copper forge from 1650.

The next morning we will go up from Campiglia Soana, together with the pilgrims, to honor the festival at the sanctuary, among the highest in Europe.

⛪ 🏘️ We therefore start from Campiglia which has many stories to tell, to follow the Royal hunting road that leads to Pian dell’Azaria, commissioned by Umberto I, King of Italy in 1897. We are in the Gran Paradiso National Park.

🥾 🥾 We leave the mule track before arriving at the plateau and begin the climb to Monte Fautenio with a beautiful path through larch woods until we reach wide views of the valley.

🌿🦌🦌 On the sides of the mountains we will have the opportunity to spot grazing chamois and the Sanctuary will already be visible, located under the Mount, a monolith approximately 60 meters high, which stands out in the natural amphitheater of the valley, culminating in the summit of the Rosa dei Banchi ( 3164 m), watershed between Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta.

⛪ The beautiful sanctuary is built under the rock face of Monte Fautenio – Fantun at 2019 m. above sea level.

Legend has it that Bessus was a soldier of the Theban legion who converted to Christianity until he was captured and thrown from the cliff of Mount Fautenio, leaving a miraculous footprint on which the sanctuary dedicated to him was built.

San Besso is not only venerated in Campiglia and throughout the Soana Valley, but also in the Canavese area and in the neighboring Aosta Valley, especially in Cogne.

We will explain why and also other interpretations.

After the rituals of the festival we will be able to enjoy the excellent lunch, with polenta cooked on the copper cauldron, prepared by the friends of San Besso.

Excursion between faith and nature, with fascinating history and anthropological reading. An experience between faith, nature and Alpine traditions, to return regenerated and in harmony. 🌿⛪🌄