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| Upper Varaita Valley | ||||||||||||||
| Territory - Habitat - History - Architecture - Tourism - Sports | ||||||||||||||
| The best areas for tourists and nature lovers are located around Bellino and Pontechianale, the highest centres in the valley. These surroundings offer sensational views and unique natural environments, even if residential tourism is particularly developed in the Pontechianale area thanks to the appeal of its huge artificial lake and its close proximity to France. | There is a limited number of modern buildings mostly located in areas west of the lake forming the hamlets of Maddalena, Chiesa, Forest and Rueite which appear to be so close to each other to be wrongly defined as "Pontechianale". |
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| By contrast Genzana and Castello (see photos) are more isolated hamlets. Although Genzana is just 100 metre away from Pontechianale, it is located along the Savaresch torrent and off the main road leading to the Col de l'Agnel. Castello faces the other side of the lake and is more than 1 km away from Pontechianale. |  |
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| Chianale is a special case. This hamlet is the final residential centre in the valley. Located in the highest part of the valley it is 4 km away from Pontechianale, very close to the winding road leading to French border. |  |
Chianale is split in two parts by a stone bridge over the torrent, it hosts three ancient churches (the oldest one is the romanesque church of Saint Anthony dating back to mid Fifteenth century). | ||||||||||||
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The village is also well-known for the feast of Saint Lawrence (August 10th), a very attractive popular event when the local inhabitants wear traditional costumes and women wear caps worked in tatting, shawls and silk aprons over heavy black dresses. These hamlets have kept their old building traditions even over the 60s', 70s' and 80s' and the subsequent building renovations have respected the authentic typology and the local materials. This has favoured the development of a customized residential tourism particularly suited to people who love the peace and quiet of natural surroundings whilst enjoying shopping and sports facilities. |
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| Territory - Habitat - History - Architecture - Tourism - Sports | ||||||||||||||