San Matteo and Valgrana: Culture, Landscapes and Trails

Valgrana at the Beginning of the Valle Grana

Valgrana lies at the beginning of the Valle Grana in a fertile plain and has the typical character of an agriculturally oriented village. In addition to agriculture, Valgrana offers sacred art, the KinoMuseo and several planned trails.

Agricultural Products from the Valle Grana

Agricultural production in Valgrana includes raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, redcurrants and kiwis. The Madernassa pear variety was also part of Valgrana’s typical agricultural production.

KinoMuseo and Sacred Art

The KinoMuseo in Valgrana grew out of a collection of cinema-related material gathered over more than 40 years and comprises more than 10,000 objects. For those interested in culture, cinema material, sacred artworks and the chapel’s frescoes are available as specific subjects to explore.

Churches and Rural Chapel

The Church of Santa Maria della Valle in Valgrana contains a depiction of the Crucifixion. The parish church of San Martino in Valgrana has frescoes. The Chapel of Saints Bernardo and Mauro stands in a rural setting at the foot of the hill of Montemale on the road to Bottonasco in the Valgrana area. The chapel dates from the 15th century. Its façade is decorated with a cycle of frescoes depicting the Annunciation, Saint Catherine, Saint Bernard of Menton, Saint Sebastian and Saint Anthony the Great.

San Magno Festival

The San Magno Festival in Valgrana is associated with the second Sunday around Ferragosto. This timing can be taken into account when planning a summer stay.

Planned Trails between Castles and Peaks

The planned Sentiero dei 2 Castelli is intended to connect Montemale Castle with the ruins of Valgrana Castle. It is expected to be about 15 km long, include 650 metres of ascent and begin at Valgrana’s sports facilities. Both planned trails begin at Valgrana’s sports facilities. Anyone planning the Sentiero dei 2 Castelli should allocate the approximate route length and ascent together. On the planned return route towards Valgrana, the trail passes the rural Capela Veja chapel.

Another planned trail to the peaks of Monte Solano and Monte Bugo begins at Valgrana’s sports facilities. The approach to the gravel road to Monte Solano follows a quiet paved road leading to the hamlets of Armandi and Bris. For this trail, both summit destinations are part of the plan, as is the described approach via Armandi and Bris. From Valgrana, trails also lead towards Montemale di Cuneo and Monterosso Grana.

Further Destinations

For the rest of your trip to Italy, you can also find Barolo, Musso, Canosio, Perno, Roe, Isasca, Castellinaldo and Garessio.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.