Colombano 500 — Five Hundred Years of the Pertus di Colombano Romean

Five centuries of a unique alpine masterpiece

2026 marks the five-hundredth anniversary of the start of construction on the Pertus di Colombano Romean, also known as the Gran Pertus: a 433-meter artificial tunnel hand-carved into the rock between 1526 and 1533, at an altitude between 2,020 and 2,050 meters, in the area between Exilles and Chiomonte in the upper Susa Valley. To celebrate this milestone, Colombano 500 was created—a cultural, scientific, and artistic festival running from July to October, with initiatives set to continue in the following years.

Who was Colombano Romean?

Colombano Romean was a stonemason born in the Ramats hamlet of Chiomonte, in the heart of the Piedmontese mountains. After learning excavation techniques in France, he directed the tunnel's construction using an ingenious method: he placed candles aligned on shelves carved into the rock to ensure the excavation proceeded in the desired direction. The work was designed to channel water from the Clarea Valley to the fields and meadows of the Cels and Ramats hamlets, and it remains functional and accessible on foot today during the low-water months between August and October.

The 2026 Program

The festival kicks off on Saturday, July 4th at the Forte di Exilles with the conference "Beyond the Rock: The Pertus di Colombano Romean between history, science, and alpine tradition," which brings together scholars and experts from various disciplines. That same evening, the traveling theatrical performance "The Gift of Water" debuts—a new production by ArTeMuDa APS dedicated to Colombano's feat, with additional performances scheduled for August.

• Inaugural conference "Beyond the Rock" at the Forte di Exilles
• Theatrical performance "The Gift of Water" by ArTeMuDa APS
• Nighttime theatrical walks inspired by the novel "The Song of Colombano" by Alessandro Perissinotto, organized by Pro Loco Exilles
• Guided tours of the Pertus between August and September, organized by the Colombano Romean Ecomuseum of the Cottian Alps Parks
• Alpine-themed film screenings, including "Ambin — The Rock and the Feather" by Fredo Valla

A tribute from the territory

Colombano 500 is the result of a collaboration between the Municipality of Exilles, Pro Loco Exilles, the Colombano Romean Ecomuseum of the Cottian Alps Parks, and numerous cultural partners, including the National Museum of Cinema Association. The festival weaves together the history of alpine engineering, the memory of the Chiomonte and Exilles communities, and the promotion of a heritage that, after five centuries, continues to bring water to the Piedmontese mountains.