Canosio: Gardetta, hiking trails and cultural heritage

Hiking, the GTA and the Percorsi Occitani

Within the municipality of Canosio, the GTA follows a short section between Passo di Rocca Brancia and Passo della Gardetta. The Rifugio della Gardetta is recognised as an overnight stage accommodation on the GTA. The high route of the Percorsi Occitani also leads to the Rifugio della Gardetta; on this route, the Rifugio della Gardetta serves as overnight stage accommodation for the Percorsi Occitani.

From Colle del Preit, a hike recommended by the municipality of Canosio leads to Lago della Meja along the route of the Percorsi Occitani. The ascent to Lago della Meja takes just under an hour. The Pis del Passet waterfall can be reached on foot from Grange Selvest in less than ten minutes. For planning the tours, the two destinations are significantly different in terms of time required: the ascent to Lago della Meja takes just under an hour, while access to Pis del Passet from Grange Selvest takes less than ten minutes on foot. By contrast, the three hand passages at Rocca La Meja require different preparation from these two short walks.

The path to the summit of Rocca La Meja is recommended only for very experienced hikers. At three points, it is necessary to use your hands to make progress along vertical precipices.

Altopiano della Gardetta and SPA area

The Altopiano della Gardetta near Canosio is recognised as part of Italy’s geological heritage. Traces of the Triassic reptile Ticinosuchus ferox can be found on the Altopiano della Gardetta. These traces are more than 245 million years old.

Canosio is one of the municipalities included in the SPA area IT1160062 “Alte valli Stura e Maira”.

Preit, Ubac and San Giovanni Battista

Four facades of the “facciata a vela” type are still preserved in the village of Preit. The village of Preit also has stone portals and windows, including the remains of a bifora window.

The hamlet of Ubac is home to a large building regarded in Valle Maira as the finest example of the “casa-villaggio” building type.

The Cappelle di San Giovanni Battista is a stone chapel with a gabled facade and a portico. The portico is supported by two pillars with the characteristic form of votive pillars dating from 1772.

A 15th-century stone baptismal font has been preserved; it is the work of the Zabreri brothers from San Damiano.

San Lorenzo and Nostrale d'Alpe

The Badia del Preit is honoured every year on the occasion of the San Lorenzo festival. The festival takes place on a Sunday around 10 August.

The Festa del Nostrale d'Alpe is dedicated to the flavours and traditions surrounding the cheese produced exclusively on alpine pastures. It celebrates the historic agricultural and livestock-farming summer tradition of the mountain pastures in the province of Cuneo.

Further destinations: San Damiano Macra, Vernante, Frabosa Sottana, Stroppo, Limone Piemonte, Beinette, Roe, Roccaforte Mondovì

To the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.