Borghi in Dialogo

A festival that gives a voice to the villages of the Maira Valley

Borghi in Dialogo is an itinerant cultural event that annually involves three small municipalities in the lower Maira Valley, in the province of Cuneo: Cartignano, San Damiano Macra, and Roccabruna. For a few days, the squares, churches, libraries, and community centers of these Piedmontese villages become the stage for book presentations, author meetings, photography exhibitions, concerts, guided hikes, and workshops. It is an opportunity to discover authentic corners of the Cuneo mountains, far from mass tourism circuits, and to reflect on issues that directly affect alpine communities.

Born from the Borghi ritrovati project

The festival is promoted as part of the Borghi ritrovati project, funded by the PNRR (Mission 1, Component 3 – Investment 2.1) and dedicated to the attractiveness of historic villages. The initiative, led by San Damiano Macra, acts as an ideal mountain-based continuation of the more established Il Ponte del Dialogo festival held in Dronero. The goal is ambitious: to use culture as a lever to revitalize territories, connect people, and tell the story of the Maira Valley to both residents and visitors.

Between literature, Occitan culture, and the mountains

The common thread of Borghi in Dialogo is, fittingly, dialogue: between generations, between disciplines, and between the past and future of these valleys. The program alternates between major current issues—such as energy transition and the environment—and more intimate moments linked to local identity, such as meetings on the Occitan language and culture, stories told by village elders, and hikes to discover the local hamlets. There is no shortage of musical moments, with concerts hosted in parish churches, as well as activities designed for families and children.

A widespread event in the lower Maira Valley

The itinerant format is the festival's greatest strength: each day takes place in a different village, inviting the public to travel and get to know the entire lower valley. Cartignano, with its multipurpose center, is one of the venues that opens the festival; San Damiano Macra hosts the busiest day of events, while Roccabruna closes the calendar with its workshops. It is a small but significant festival that demonstrates how even the most secluded villages in Piedmont can become vibrant hubs of encounter and culture.