Campiglia Cervo – Churches, Forests and Historic Paths

Campiglia Cervo brings together woodland landscapes, sacred art and small-scale evidence of local and valley history. For those interested in culture, the valley offers polyptychs, churches, mule tracks, details from the hamlets and examples of traditional craftsmanship side by side.

Forests, Water and Paved Paths

Campiglia Cervo lies amid beech forests. The Cervo stream runs through Campiglia Cervo and is therefore just as much a part of the local landscape as the forest paths and scattered hamlets. Numerous paved mule tracks lead to the hamlets of Campiglia Cervo, cross beech forests and pass by numerous votive chapels. The paved surface shapes the connection between the forest, hamlets and votive chapels. The mule tracks are accessible to everyone.

Churches and Sacred Art

The parish church of Campiglia Cervo is dedicated to Saint Joseph and Saint Bernard and dates from 1607. It houses Bernardino Lanino’s polyptych from 1565, which was recently restored. The different dates of the church and the polyptych therefore refer to the same church interior.

Another sacred site is the Santuario di San Giovanni. It began at the start of the 16th century as a small chapel carved into the rock; the present-day church was built between 1602 and 1608. The chapel and the present-day church therefore belong to two different construction periods. The sanctuary also contains a restored library. The Sacro Monte di San Giovanni runs from the village of Campiglia through beech and pine forests.

On the footpath between the Santuario di San Giovanni d’Andorno and the hamlet of Oretto stands the church of Santa Maria di Pediclosso. It is considered the oldest church in the Cervo Valley. Every year on 1 May, a celebration is held at Santa Maria di Pediclosso. Mass is followed by an auction of local food products and lunch in the meadows.

Local History in Detail

The An Cà da Fè house in the hamlet of Bussetti is considered one of the oldest houses in the valley and has been completely preserved in its original condition. In the hamlet of Forgnengo, the “giochi di pietra” are carved into the low walls within the village. The Cappella di Ritert was built by the inhabitants out of gratitude for the end of the plague in 1641. In Bussetti and Forgnengo, specific details of local history stand alongside the history of the plague and traditional craftsmanship.

The Muro della Balma represents the stonemasons’ craftsmanship in the valley and the history of the syenite quarries that shaped life in the valley. The Scuole Tecniche Professionali per le Costruzioni Edili e Stradali were founded in Campiglia Cervo in 1862. The Società Operaia di Mutuo Soccorso della Valle d’Andorno was based in Campiglia Cervo. “C’era una volta a Campiglia…” features antique exhibitions on clothing, documents, books and traditions.

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To the higher-level travel overview: Biella.