Campiglia Cervo: Churches, Forests and Paved Paths
Accommodation in Campiglia Cervo
Forest, Water and Paved Paths
Campiglia Cervo lies amid beech forests. The Torrente Cervo runs through Campiglia Cervo. Numerous paved mule tracks lead to the hamlets of Campiglia Cervo. They pass through beech forests, run past numerous votive chapels and are accessible to everyone. In Campiglia Cervo, a walk along these paths can be combined with reaching the hamlets and the religious landmarks along the way. The Sacro Monte di San Giovanni runs from the village of Campiglia through beech and pine forests. The Church of Santa Maria di Pediclosso stands on the footpath between the Santuario di San Giovanni d’Andorno and the hamlet of Oretto.
File:Campiglia Cervo - Chiesa dei Santi Bernardo e Giuseppe - 2024-09-02 20-49-14 002.jpg
Photo: Viaggiamocela via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Churches and Sacred Art
The parish church of Campiglia Cervo is dedicated to Saints Joseph and Bernard and dates from 1607. The parish church houses the polyptych by Bernardino Lanino from 1565, which was recently restored. A polyptych is a multi-panel artwork with several image fields.
The Santuario di San Giovanni began at the start of the 16th century as a small chapel carved into the rock. The present church of the Santuario di San Giovanni was built between 1602 and 1608. The Santuario di San Giovanni houses a restored library.
Landmark and Annual Celebration
Santa Maria di Pediclosso is described as the oldest church in the Cervo Valley. The celebration of Santa Maria di Pediclosso takes place every year on May 1. Mass is followed by an auction of food products and lunch in the meadows. Anyone planning to attend this event in Campiglia Cervo will find a set programme beginning with a religious celebration and followed by a meal outdoors.
Historical Traces in the Hamlets
An Cà da Fè in the hamlet of Bussetti is considered one of the oldest houses in the valley. The house has been completely preserved in its original condition. In the hamlet of Forgnengo, the “giochi di pietra” are carved into the low walls within the village. The Cappella di Ritert was built by the inhabitants out of gratitude for the end of the plague in 1641.
The Muro della Balma represents the stonecutters’ craftsmanship of the valley and the history of the syenite quarries that shaped life in the valley. Syenite is a type of rock. The Scuole Tecniche Professionali per le Costruzioni Edili e Stradali were founded in Campiglia Cervo in 1862. The Società Operaia di Mutuo Soccorso della Valle d’Andorno was based in Campiglia Cervo.
“C’era una volta a Campiglia...” features antique exhibitions on clothing, documents, books and traditions. The exhibition themes therefore range from historic garments and written documents to books and inherited traditions.
Other places include Netro, Bioglio, Graglia, Caprile, Romagnano, Solesio, Muzzano and Pollone.
For the broader travel overview: Province of Biella.
