Ferrera: Village History and Mountain Trails

Ferrera is in the Val Mastallone, a side valley of the Valsesia. Stone houses and quiet lanes characterise the mountain village, while trails lead to alpine pastures and high points. A stay here combines the village’s character with its religious history and a mountain landscape whose trails vary in altitude and estimated times.

Village Character and Your Stay

There is a car park at the entrance to Ferrera; from there, you can continue on foot through the lanes. This makes the village itself a natural starting point: the stone houses and quiet lanes provide the setting for a walk through Ferrera. The village’s regional context is also part of its character: Ferrera is in the Val Mastallone, a side valley of the Valsesia. A Villaggio Albergo Diffuso is located in the hamlet of Ferrera. If you are considering staying there, check current availability before making plans.

Eugenia’s Story

The story of Eugenia, believed to have been a martyr, connects several religious places of remembrance. On 3 October, she was transferred to the parish church of San Pietro in Ferrera as part of a major celebration. A niche was created in the left wall of the Chapel of San Giovanni Battista to house her. To protect Eugenia’s urn from damp, it is currently placed directly on the altar mensa in the same chapel.

The annual celebration in Eugenia’s honour takes place on the last Sunday in July. It used to be celebrated with greater solemnity. The two dates have different purposes: 3 October marks the day of the transfer, while the last Sunday in July is the date of the annual celebration.

Trails and Elevations

CAI trail 578 starts on Strada Val Mastallone near Ferrera at 740 m and leads to Alpe Vairolo at 1,658 m. The route profile gives 7 June 2017 as the date of the last trail survey. It is therefore advisable to check current trail conditions before setting out.

Other trail points reveal different aspects of the landscape. One trail reaches Alpe Giavina Lunga at 928 m in less than half an hour. Another trail passes a mountain pass at 1,491 m, with views of the Valbella. The trail to Alpe Vairolo first reaches the western shoulder of Cima Kaval at 1,639 m. Along one trail, former agricultural terraces are now completely overgrown with forest. They make the area’s former agricultural use visible as part of today’s landscape.

The summit of Cavallo (Kaval) is at 1,895 m. A route description published in January 2024 gives an ascent time of about four hours from Ferrera; terrain and conditions may change. Compared with the less-than-30-minute walk to Alpe Giavina Lunga, this is a considerably longer hiking option. The times refer to different destinations and help you gauge how long the available routes may take.

Discover more destinations: Cellio, Cigliano, Rimasco, Piode, Santhià, Desana, Pila, Campertogno.

Return to the main travel overview: Vercelli.