Today I want to tell you about a truly special place. Just 50 minutes by car from Cascina 6b, nestled in the greenery, there is a small village called Vonzo, located in the Chialamberto fraction in the province of Turin, made up of stone houses and lots of traditions.
As soon as you arrive in this place, the perceived sensation is that of leaving the chaos of the city to enter an atmosphere of other times, characterized by small stone streets that can only be explored on foot, by houses with embroidered curtains on the windows and doors that are always open, from little dogs of the local gentlemen with bandanas that read “even if I pretend otherwise, I have already eaten”, from the noise of the fountains of rushing fresh water, from the smell of coffee and freshly cut grass.
The activities to enjoy are countless: the church square features a well-equipped playground, a bowl and a volleyball court, along with some benches where you can sunbathe, read a book or simply listen to the birds chirping while admiring the view.
There’s no need to remember to bring a book from home because Vonzo, in perfect harmony with its communal spirit, provides them for you! There’s a charming DIY library made up of lovely wooden shelves and a selection of books available for anyone who wants to take one and read it.
For trekking enthusiasts, the church square is the starting point of a trail leading to the Madonna of Ciavanis Sanctuary, a small church located on the northern slope at an altitude of 1880 meters. The sanctuary is reachable on foot via an ancient mule track that crosses the valley, taking about an hour and a half or by the parallel paved road, which can also be traveled with e-bikes available for rent at the upper square, near the road leading to the sanctuary.
The Feast of the Madonna of Ciavanis
Every second Sunday of July, a unique celebration takes place at the Madonna of Ciavanis Sanctuary, characterized by the religious function which allows the doors of the church (closed for the rest of the year) to be opened, followed by lively festivities including traditional music, dancing, polenta, sausages and the famous incanto (“enchantment”), an auction of local handcrafted products, which proceeds are used for the church’s maintenance.
You should know that, on this occasion, the barrier that usually prevents cars from reaching the summit throughout the year is opened to allow everyone to join in the celebrations.
A small tip: once you return to Vonzo, to end the day on a high note and reward yourself for the effort of the hike, I recommend visiting the La Bellavarda Farmhouse, an excellent place where you can taste the typical local products, in the comfort of the beautiful outdoor area of the restaurant, also enriched by the kindness of the staff.
So, as you may have guessed, Vonzo is a small town that has so much to offer, to tell and that is waiting for nothing more than to be discovered.
Points of interest
How to reach Vonzo from Cascina 6b
By Car: reachable in about 50 minutes. Provincial Road 2 (SP2) towards Germagnano. From there, continue along Provincial Road 1 of Lanzo Valleys until you reach Chialamberto. Turn right onto Via Volpetta and go up for about 10 minutes to arrive in Vonzo.
Public transports: it’s more complicated to reach Vonzo by public transport, but you can conveniently use the Cascina 6b transfert service, which is very comfortable!
Clothing kit
Sporty clothes and comfortable shoes
I wish you a
NICE TRIP!
Useful links;
