Valprato Soana: Sanctuary of San Besso, trails and culture

Valprato Soana offers distinctive places of worship, trails and winter activities in Piamprato. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, start by considering whether your main focus is the Sanctuary of San Besso, local culture or outdoor activities.

Sanctuary of San Besso: location and access

A specific landmark is the Sanctuary of San Besso, at the upper end of the Campiglia Soana valley. It lies at an altitude of 2,019 metres at the foot of Monte Fantono. The sanctuary is a very ancient place of worship; the nearby rock face may have been venerated even in pre-Christian times.

From Campiglia, it takes about an hour and a half on foot to reach the sanctuary. The route begins on an unpaved section of the former royal hunting road, followed by an easy trail. There is also a longer and more scenic route from Piamprato. This gives you the choice of a route with an approximate walking time or a longer, scenic alternative. Seasonal conditions can vary; check the conditions before setting out.

Cultural heritage and local culture

In the main village of Valprato Soana stands the parish church, Parrocchiale di San Silverio, dedicated to San Silverio. In front of the entrance is a Sator square palindrome, also known as the “Quadrato magico di Pompei.” Together with the high-altitude Sanctuary of San Besso, the church represents a distinct cultural landmark: the sanctuary at the upper end of the valley and a religious building in the main village.

The ethnocultural open-air trail “Lo Prà: tra storia, memoria e natura” winds through the streets of Piamprato. Information panels, historical photographs and stories explore life in the village. Topics include old stone houses, the communal oven, the school, traditional crafts and religious traditions, including festivals in honour of San Grato and the Madonna delle Nevi. On this walk, you can learn about different aspects of the village’s history rather than focusing on a single building.

The Feast of Our Lady of the Snows is celebrated every year on August 5 at the Sanctuary of Beirano. The “L’uomo e i coltivi” visitor centre in Campiglia Soana presents the history of local agriculture and the relationship between people and the natural environment. These two topics complement the religious sites and the trail with festival traditions and the history of living with the landscape.

Trails, nature and activities

The Campiglia–San Besso–Grange Arietta trail crosses the Azaria plateaus. In spring, you can observe one of the largest concentrations of chamois in the entire park there; marmots are also relatively easy to spot. However, wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. The route combines a specific nature-related highlight with a trail across the plateaus.

The seventh stage of the Giroparco runs from San Besso in Valprato Soana over the Colle della Borra towards Piamprato, then continues to the remains of a small mine nearby. For sport climbing, Gran Paradiso National Park recommends the climbing wall at Pianprato.

Piamprato is a small ski area with a range of winter sports activities and opportunities for relaxing days in the snow. If you are planning your stay around winter sports, check the ski area’s current operating status in advance. This makes it easy to choose the focus of your trip: trails and nature, sport climbing or snow activities.

If your main aim is to visit the Sanctuary of San Besso, the two routes described differ in walking time and character. For a culture-focused trip, the sites and topics in Valprato Soana, Piamprato and Campiglia Soana can help guide your planning.

Discover more destinations: Cambiano, Bobbio Pellice, Sestriere, Ruà, Collegno, Montalto Dora, Fenestrelle, Villafranca Piemonte

For the main travel overview: Turin.