Valchiusella

Historic villages, wilderness and underground towns

A landscape that has remained unchanged over the centuries, thanks to its inaccessible terrain, where nature reigns supreme and ancient villages are nestled between high mountains and natural water pools. We are in Valchiusella, a wide valley north of Turin crossed by the stream of the same name.

The archetype of Valchiusella is Fondo, a small village that can only be reached on foot by crossing a Romanesque stone bridge. Stroll between the houses with their characteristic stone roofs and climb up to the beautiful Cascatella. Also worth a visit is Tallorno, a fairy-tale village nestled in a beech forest where numerous hiking trails start, such as the one leading to the scenic Bocchetta delle Oche where you can admire the entire Valchiusella valley. If you love trekking, your itinerary must include the Sentiero delle Anime (Path of the Souls): a route that passes through sacred places of an ancient pagan religion, marked by rock carvings. Then move on to Alice Superiore to dive into the cool waters of the Guje di Garavot – a series of gorges cut by the Torrente Valchiusella.

But if you want to be truly amazed, you must visit the Temples of Humankind of Damanhur. Considered by many to be the eighth wonder of the world, this immense underground construction – the largest ever made – was excavated by hand over 16 years, starting in 1978, by members of the Federation of Damanhur. Its rooms and tunnels span 8,500 cubic metres at a depth of 72 metres, in a riot of light and colour, with garish paintings, inlays, sculptures and mosaics that will leave you speechless.