50th Anniversary of the Villar Pellice AIB and Civil Protection Team
Four days of music, culture, and remembrance marking half a century of volunteering in Val Pellice
About 50th AIB Villar Pellice
Fifty years at the service of the mountains
In the heart of Val Pellice, in Villar Pellice (Province of Turin, Piedmont), the Forest Firefighting (AIB) and Civil Protection Team celebrates a major milestone: half a century of volunteering at the service of the local area. Founded on November 12, 1976, shortly after the 1975 law on forest fire defense came into effect, it was one of the first teams to be established in the valley, alongside those of Bobbio Pellice, Angrogna, and Lusernetta.
In the early days, volunteers fought flames "with shovels and spades, wearing the clothes they had on when they left home," recalls president Luca Biesuz. Today, the team is a structured and well-equipped organization, serving as a vital reference point for safety and prevention in a fragile and precious mountain region.
A celebration of culture and community
To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary, the Municipality of Villar Pellice is hosting a rich and varied program from April 16 to 19, 2026, designed not only as a celebration but also as a moment for reflection. The event kicks off with two evenings of conferences dedicated to the great issues of our time: forest management and energy communities, as well as the relationship between meteorology and climate change, featuring expert speakers.
The most moving moment will be the choral concert on Saturday in the evocative Waldensian Temple, a symbol of the historical and cultural identity of Val Pellice, the land of the Waldensian valleys. Three choirs from the Aosta Valley, Trentino, and Val Germanasca will take turns on stage, closing together with "Signore delle Cime" by Bepi De Marzi, the quintessential anthem of mountain singing.
The official ceremony
Sunday is dedicated to the official ceremony at the team's headquarters on Via Ruà 25, with the presence of the President of the Piedmont Region, Alberto Cirio, the Mayor of Villar Pellice, Luca Bonjour, the regional AIB inspector, and local authorities. The day concludes with a community lunch featuring Piedmontese fried specialties, symbolizing a festival that aims above all to be a local gathering.
Why you should attend
- An opportunity to discover Val Pellice and its Waldensian history
- Choral concerts in a venue with deep cultural significance
- Conferences open to everyone on climate, forests, and the environment
- A sincere tribute to mountain volunteering
50th AIB Villar Pellice — edition 2026
The fiftieth anniversary of the Villar Pellice AIB and Civil Protection Team was celebrated with a four-day program that wove together culture, music, and memory. The conference evenings addressed topics such as forest management, energy communities, and climate change, while the Saturday choral concert at the Waldensian Temple brought together three groups from the Aosta Valley, Trentino, and Val Germanasca. On Sunday, the official ceremony at the Via Ruà headquarters saw the participation of top regional and local authorities, concluding with a community lunch.
Programme 50th AIB Villar Pellice 2026
Thursday, April 16 — Dogana Reale, Bobbio Pellice
- 9:00 PM — Conference "A territory looking to the future: from forest management to Energy Communities". Speakers: Claudia Bertinat (Mayor of Rorà), Andrea Ighina, and Lilia Garnier.
Friday, April 17 — Multi-purpose Hall, Villar Pellice
- 9:00 PM — Conference "Meteorology and climate change: is accurate information possible?". Speakers: Andrea Vuolo (environmental physicist, TGR Rai) and Alberto Efrem (graduate in Atmospheric Physics, forest fire expert). Topics: genesis of weather forecasts, alert management, extreme phenomena, 2022-2025 thermal records, and meteorology applied to forest fires.
Saturday, April 18 — Waldensian Temple, Villar Pellice
- Choral concert with Chorale Châtel Argent (Villeneuve, AO), Coro Genzianella (Roncogno, Pergine Valsugana, TN), and Gruppo Corale Elminal (Val Germanasca, TO), conducted by maestro A. Fuoli.
- Grand finale with all choirs joining to sing "Signore delle Cime" by Bepi De Marzi.
- In the afternoon, the Trentino choir visits Waldensian sites: museum, Temple, and Waldensian House.
Sunday, April 19 — Team Headquarters, Via Ruà 25
- 9:30 AM — Gathering.
- 10:30 AM — Institutional greetings and speeches by authorities, with the presence of the President of the Piedmont Region Alberto Cirio, Mayor Luca Bonjour, and the regional AIB inspector.
- Followed by: refreshments and a social moment.
- 1:00 PM — Lunch with Piedmontese fried specialties at the Multi-purpose Hall (reservation required by April 15).
Highlights 50th AIB Villar Pellice 2026
Prices 50th AIB Villar Pellice 2026
Practical information — 50th AIB Villar Pellice
How to get there
Villar Pellice is located in Val Pellice, in the Province of Turin. By car, it can be reached from Pinerolo by following the SP161 of Val Pellice via Torre Pellice and Bobbio Pellice. The nearest train station is in Pinerolo (Turin-Pinerolo line), then continue by bus or car towards the valley.
Where it takes place
Events are held in multiple locations: the Multi-purpose Hall of Villar Pellice (conferences and lunch), the Waldensian Temple (choral concert), the team headquarters at Via Ruà 25 (official ceremony), and the Dogana Reale in Bobbio Pellice (inaugural conference).
Reservations and contacts
To attend the Sunday community lunch, reservations are required by Wednesday, April 15, by contacting Sonia Charbonnier (+39 346 5788863) or Christian Rostagnol (+39 349 4682132). The presence of association banners and flags is welcome.
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Where does it take place — 50th AIB Villar Pellice
Sede della Squadra AIB e Protezione Civile
Via Ruà 25, 10060 Villar Pellice