Carcoforo-Boffalora Friendship Pact

A friendship that crosses the Alps

The Carcoforo-Boffalora Friendship Pact is much more than just a date on the summer calendar: it is the celebration of an authentic bond between two communities, geographically distant but united by decades of shared experiences. On one side, Carcoforo, a tiny Walser village at 1,304 meters above sea level in the heart of the Val d'Egua, in Valsesia (Province of Vercelli, Piedmont); on the other, Boffalora sopra Ticino, a town in the Lombardy plains along the Naviglio Grande canal.

The roots of the bond

It all began in 1981, when the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) section of Boffalora sopra Ticino took over the management of the "Paolo Majerna" Mountain Hut in Val d'Egua, above Carcoforo. Since then, generations of volunteers have traveled between the plains and the mountains, building a solid relationship based on shared values, teamwork, and a passion for the highlands. The hut, named after one of the founding members of the Boffalora CAI, has become the symbol of this friendship.

In 2026, this relationship was finally formalized: the Friendship Pact was officially signed in Boffalora by mayors Sabina Doniselli (Boffalora) and Vittorio Bertolini (Carcoforo), on the occasion of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the CAI section and the 45th anniversary of the Majerna Hut. The day in Carcoforo represents the reciprocal moment of celebration, hosted by the mountain community.

A day of celebration and conviviality

The event, coordinated by the Pro Loco of Carcoforo, is designed as a symbol of esteem, friendship, and collaboration between the two communities. The program includes:

• The official Friendship Pact ceremony between the two municipalities
• A performance by the Boffalora Marching Band, bringing its festive notes among the Walser houses
• A communal lunch at the Trasinera Sporting, a moment of encounter between the residents of Carcoforo and their Lombard guests

Carcoforo, a Walser jewel of Valsesia

Visiting Carcoforo means discovering one of the smallest and highest municipalities in Valsesia, where Walser culture is still alive in the wood and stone architecture. The village preserves an ancient restored torba (granary) dating back to the 1300s, a natural history museum, and a multimedia museum housed in the town hall. All around, the trails of the Val d'Egua climb towards the Colle d'Egua and the Majerna Hut, in an alpine landscape of great beauty. Participating in the Friendship Pact is also an opportunity to immerse yourself in this authentic corner of the Vercelli Alps.