Cammino di San Giacomo in Stura Valley | Stage 3 Vinadio - Pontebernardo

The village lies at the foot of the spectacular golden-yellow wall from which the spires of Mount Bersaio to the north and Mount Nebius to the northeast rise, in an area inhabited since pre-Roman times. Surrounded by numerous hamlets that climb the suggestive scenery of the upper valley, the municipality preserves important testimonies of this centuries-old history. Among these stands the Chapel of San Giuliano with its tuff single-lancet windows, a medieval building rebuilt in the 18th century. In the town itself, the Civic Tower of San Bartolomeo stands tall, built in a position controlling the valley as a lookout tower. It is a powerful five-story structure topped by a high pyramidal spire, at the base of which the Savoy knot and an inscription dating back to 1451 are carved on a large rock. Not far away is the Parish Church of Santa Maria, built in the 15th century. In the former elementary schools, there is the Valle Documentation Center, which promotes various initiatives to enhance the valley's historical and cultural heritage.

Pietraporzio

Located at the foot of the mixed fir forests that populate the upper valley, Pietraporzio stands by an artificial dam on the Stura river, protected by a large rock whose shape, resembling a boar’s back (pietra porci), gives rise to its curious name. Documented since at least medieval times, the municipality includes the main town and some interesting hamlets. Particularly notable is the part of the town on the right bank of the Stura, where you can find remnants of medieval arches and tuff cornerstones. Near the cemetery stands the "Catre Loupes" Bell Tower (15th century), the only remaining part of the ancient parish church, so called because of the animal figures at the corners of the spire. The current Parish Church of Santo Stefano dates back to the late 18th century and has a bell tower with a wooden shingle roof like the nearby Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Just a few kilometers from the town center, the Pastoralism Ecomuseum in the Pontebernardo hamlet is worth a visit, with its museum route and workshops dedicated to working with products from the Sambucana sheep.