Vernante

Historical notes
Vernante is a small village in the province of Cuneo whose history seems to have its roots in prehistory when the territory was occupied by the people who colonised the nearby Valley of Wonders. The years passed and during the Middle Ages the town was controlled by the Marquises of Saluzzo followed, later, by the Counts of Tenda and the Anjou; modern times, on the other hand, are characterised by the Savoy regency. The 19th century goes down in history due to the transfer to France and America of a large part of the population who were forced to leave their land in search of food and work. Many of the vernanteses, who remained in the village, later took part in the First and Second World War, taking away about 170 people, some of whom lost their lives in Nazi camps. Today, Vernante is a very popular tourist centre for people of all ages (including families with offspring) who are looking for a place to relax, practice outdoor sports activities and enjoy good and genuine local gastronomic delicacies.

Some good reasons to visit Vernante
There are many good reasons to organize a short holiday in this wonderful Piedmontese resort. If you want to relax and breathe fresh, clean air, Vernante is the right place for you. The same is true if you love to practise sports in the green, because in this small village there is no shortage of trails for cycling and paths for trekking enthusiasts. The pride of this splendid village, however, is made up of splendid murals celebrating the famous Pinocchio. If you love this story and want to become a child again for a few hours, you can't miss a visit to its historical centre, where everything talks about the famous puppet and his companions of adventure.

What to see
Vernante is ready to welcome you with its countless attractions, but some stops are mandatory. The Tourusela is, for example, an enchanting tower erected by Pietro Balbo in 1280 which stands out for its particular central tower with a hexagonal plan. At the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Valle (15th century) a building with a Greek cross plan awaits you, whose pride and joy are certainly represented by the dome with 19th century decorations and the throne of the Virgin in baroque style. A visit to the Parish Church of San Nicolao follows; the building, erected in 1200, has been the object of many interventions aimed at tracing the taste of each era. The church, today in baroque style, houses four altars, two chapels, countless sacred paintings and two noteworthy sculptures (Christ the Redeemer, Sacred Heart of Jesus). Finally, you cannot miss a walk in the old town centre where you can admire the splendid murals that retrace the history of Pinocchio on the facades of the ancient buildings.

What to eat
A holiday in Vernante cannot be considered complete without tasting some of its gastronomic specialities. Let yourself be tempted by the specialities of the Piedmontese tradition, but not only. Vernante is, in fact, famous for baked onions stuffed with potatoes, chard (alternatively spinach), rice and leeks, ravioli stuffed with leeks and potatoes and pumpkin and meliga pie.

BY CAR

• From Turin: take State Road 20 (Carmagnola - Savigliano - Cuneo - Borgo S. Dalmazzo - Vernante) or the Turin-Savona motorway as far as Fossano, then take the aforementioned State Road..
• From Genoa and Savona: take the Savona-Turin motorway, exiting at Mondovì exit.

BY TRAIN

• Cuneo Station
• Mondovì Station