Locana: Mountain Landscapes, Culture and Trails

Locana’s Landscape in Gran Paradiso National Park

Locana combines protected mountain landscapes, trails and sites of cultural and historical significance. The northern part of the Locana area above the Orco, between the settlements of Perebecche and Prà and including the Valsoera and Piantonetto valleys, belongs to Gran Paradiso National Park. In the middle mountain region, small hamlets with a rugged character are interspersed with centuries-old chestnut forests; views extend across large parts of the municipality. The Vallone di Piantonetto is characterised by its diverse protected flora and fauna.

When planning your day, you can focus on different landscape themes: hamlets, rock formations and chestnut forests in the middle mountain region, or the protected nature of the Vallone di Piantonetto.

Excursions at Your Own Pace

If you are planning a short afternoon excursion, the Anello la Cà, Lucenti e Orti circular trail is considered an easy, short route. It therefore offers a manageable way to experience Locana’s landscape within a limited time frame.

The route to Punta Cia leads from Località Carello past the huts at Alpe Cialma and Lago Cimur before reaching the summit. From there, the Gran Paradiso massif can be seen. The new chairlift, inaugurated in 2023, runs from Località Carello at an altitude of 1,416 m to Alpe Cialma at almost 1,800 m.

For multi-day trekking tours, the Alta Via del Canavese, or A.V.C. for short, is designated as an important route in Locana. It allows for stages with accommodation, mountain huts and bivouacs.

Visitor Centre and Church

In Locana, Gran Paradiso National Park dedicates a visitor centre to the traditional craft of chimney sweeps from Valle Orco and Val di Rhêmes. The visitor centre “Locana: Antichi e nuovi mestieri” reconstructs an Alpine domestic setting in which freshly milked milk was processed into butter and cheese. An animated play tells of the hard life of the chimney sweeps, while a model explains how the dam system and hydroelectric power station in the Vallone di Piantonetto operate.

The Parrocchiale di San Pietro in Vincoli was completed in 1681 and consecrated by Monsignor Trucchi. Its bell tower preserves Romanesque features in the form of bifora windows made from local mica schist, dating to around 1300. The Parrocchiale has a three-nave layout; its façade and interior furnishings clearly display the Baroque style of the 17th century. For visitors interested in culture, older architectural elements and Baroque design come together directly in one place.

Further Activities and Regional Orientation

The Le Vie del Lupo adventure park is located in a wooded area and offers suspended platforms, Tibetan bridges, moving walkways and zip lines. The park thus complements hiking and cultural experiences with activities involving climbing elements and physical movement.

For regional orientation, bus route 5137 connects Rivarolo, Pont and Ceresole.

Further Destinations for Orientation

You can find further destinations at Garibaldi, Usseaux, Ciriè, Castellamonte, Brusasco, Airali, Gravere and Roure.

For the higher-level travel overview: Turin.