Venasca: Churches, Circular Trails and Chestnut Culture

Historic Centre and Sacred Art

In the historic centre of Venasca stand the monumental parish church of Maria Vergine Assunta and the monumental Casa della Torre. The parish church is a Baroque building with an octagonal floor plan. A few steps from the parish church, a fresco of the Trinity can be found on an exterior wall of the Casa della Canonica. It depicts the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit blessing.

Circular Trails through Forests and Valleys

The Anello di Cresta starts on Via Provinciale Piasco next to the Carabinieri station. The circular trail then follows the watershed between the Varaita Valley and the adjacent valleys.

The Anello delle 4 Chiesette is an easy circular trail accessible year-round through chestnut forests, hamlets and small churches.

The Anello di Pluf is a circular trail. The activities offered on the Anello di Pluf take approximately two hours in total; this approximate duration refers to the activities and can serve as a separate time frame for planning the day.

The Anello delle 7 Chiesette leads to a beautiful viewpoint at an altitude of 1,135 metres.

Music, Frescoes and Historical Traces

La Fabbrica dei Suoni is located in the restored rooms of the old La Trancia sawmill. It has spaces for cultural, musical, educational and leisure activities. La Fabbrica dei Suoni is a theme park aimed primarily at school students. The journey from sound to music includes themed rooms, workshops and educational activities based on play. La Fabbrica dei Suoni combines its former use as a sawmill with a programme of cultural, musical, educational and leisure activities.

The Santuario di Santa Lucia is located on the road to Isasca and is decorated with frescoes by the artist Netu Borgna, who came from Martiniana Po. The Santuario di Peralba is located just beyond the hamlet of Bricco, in a scenic position.

In the Borgo Ribodino area, some fragments of the walls of a castle complex built in the Early Middle Ages are still visible; its structural remains are now almost completely destroyed.

Chestnuts and Regular Events

Every year in October and November, chestnuts are traded in Venasca on Mondays and Thursdays in Piazza Martiri. The trading thus extends over two months and takes place repeatedly on these days of the week.

The patronal festival Festa patronale di Santa Lucia is scheduled for the period from 18 September to 21 September 2026. The 35th Mostra Mercato della Castagna is scheduled for the period from 16 October to 20 October 2026. Both festivals take place in autumn 2026, but in different months.

More Destinations for Planning Your Trip

More destinations for your trip to Italy: Mompiano De Trezzo Tinella, Grinzane Cavour, Roburent, Cortemilia, Castagnito, Priocca, San Chiaffredo, Mondovì.

To the overview of the wider travel area: Cuneo.