Discover Sordevolo: Passion, History and Trails

Sordevolo lies below the Monte Mars Reserve and also includes the southern slopes of Monte Mucrone. Forests, pastures and scattered mountain huts shape the landscape; a network of trails connects these areas. This brings cultural history and trails through a wooded mountain landscape together in your travel plans.

Culture and History in Sordevolo

The Passione di Sordevolo is performed by the village community every five years. Its staging recreates a small part of Palestine, including the Upper Room, the High Council, Gethsemane, Herod’s palace, Pilate’s praetorium and Calvary. These named settings make the Passion story tangible in its physical setting.

The Museo della Passione is also part of the cultural offering. It is permanently housed in the choir and sacristy of the 17th-century Church of Santa Marta. Another historic site is Villa Cernigliaro, a late-19th-century residence commissioned by the Vercellone family. During the Fascist period, it was a meeting place for opposition intellectuals and politicians, including Natalia Ginzburg, Norberto Bobbio, Cesare Pavese, Luigi Einaudi, Benedetto Croce, Luigi Pirandello and Eugenio Montale.

The Church of Sant’Ambrogio preserves a polychrome marble altar by Francesco Olgiati dating to 1776, as well as other marble altars and wooden sculptures. La Trappa is a former Trappist monastery complex. Between 1796 and 1802, it was home to a Trappist community that had fled revolutionary France; the complex also houses the Ecomuseo della Tradizione Costruttiva. The Vercellone Palace Wool Mills Archive tells the story of a family business that operated internationally from 1730 to 1899.

Annual Festivals and Seasonal Events

The Fiera Autunnale takes place in October and coincides with the tradition of transhumance. More than 500 Pezzata Rossa d’Oropa cattle are exhibited at the fair, where visitors can see them up close. A cheese and butter area offers products made from the milk of these cattle. If you want to plan your stay around the fair, check the specific event dates in advance.

The Mercatino degli Angeli is also part of the recurring events calendar: since 2002, it has been held every year on six Sundays between November and December. The dates vary from year to year. The two events therefore differ not only in season but also in focus: the Fiera centres on transhumance, cattle and dairy products, while the Mercatino is about the pre-Christmas market season.

Hiking Trails and Landscape

An approximately two-hour hike starts at the Sordevolo amphitheatre, passes through the village to the old wash houses, then follows an ancient mule track through the forest to San Grato. The route then returns to Sordevolo. The approximate duration and named stops give you a clear framework for the hike. Check the availability of a guided tour before your trip.

Sordevolo is also on the Cammino di San Carlo, which branches off the Via Francigena near Lago di Viverone. A trail along the Roggia Molinaria climbs towards forests and gorges carved by water. The route descriptions focus on different aspects: the hike to San Grato specifies the start, route, return and approximate duration, while the Roggia Molinaria route highlights forests and gorges.

Food and Landscape

Slow Food Travel Montagne Biellesi brings food and landscape together. The associated Associazione per l’Ecomuseo Valle Elvo e Serra is based at Via Bagneri 2, 13817 Sordevolo (BI). Together with the cheese and butter area at the Fiera Autunnale, this theme highlights another link between regional produce and local traditions.

Discover more destinations: Villa Del Bosco, Sala Biellese, Muzzano, Caprile, Graglia, Andorno Cacciorna, Netro, Lessona

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