Art Trail - The Upper Hamlets of Vocca

A new Art Trail among the upper hamlets of Vocca

In the heart of the Valsesia valley, in the province of Vercelli, the small town of Vocca is expanding its hiking heritage with a new itinerary: «The upper hamlets of Vocca. Men and saints on the southern slopes of Mount Lavaggio», the thirteenth chapter of the Valsesia Art Trails project. The event is divided into two parts: a presentation at the town hall and an inaugural guided hike along the newly restored path.

The Art Trails project

The Art Trails were launched in 1992 by the Ancient Mountain, Mountain to Save Commission of the CAI of Varallo, with the goal of preserving and promoting the historical and artistic heritage of the Valsesia valleys. Each trail crosses hamlets, chapels, oratories, and ancient paths, restoring memory to places at risk of being forgotten. The Vocca trail, created in collaboration with the Municipality of Vocca and various local entities, continues this tradition of territorial enhancement.

The circular route

The route is circular and shorter than other trails in the project. It develops on the left hydrographic side of the valley, above the parish center, touching the upper hamlets of Molliane, Fossati, and Sassiglioni. The start and finish are set at the Oratory of San Michele in the Molliane hamlet. Along the way, you will encounter the Molinetto, the Fossati hamlet, the Piovale chapel, and the villages of Sassiglioni, in a succession of testaments to faith and daily mountain life.

A journey through faith, history, and landscape

The walk is an opportunity to observe places that tell the story of mountain communities: villages, votive chapels, ancient paths, and signs of popular devotion. Mount Lavaggio serves as the backdrop for an itinerary that combines art, history, and nature, highlighting the identity of the Valsesia and the Piedmont mountains.

Organizers and community

The initiative is promoted by the Ancient Mountain, Mountain to Save Commission of the CAI of Varallo together with the Municipality of Vocca, with the support of local associations linked to the oratories, the Vocca Carnival, the Oratorio San Giovanni Battista, and the Associazione Amici di Manuel. A prime example of collaboration between institutions, mountaineers, and citizens to care for the heritage of the Valsesia mountains.