FAI Spring Days - Discovering Tavagnasco: Between Stone and Spirituality

A Canavese village with a story to tell

The FAI Spring Days are the annual opportunity offered by the National Trust for Italy (Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano) to discover rarely accessible parts of our heritage. In Tavagnasco, a small municipality in the Province of Turin nestled at the gateway to the Aosta Valley, at the foot of the Graian Alps and overlooking the Ivrea Morainic Amphitheatre, the event focuses on the themes of stone and spirituality. This Canavese village in Piedmont showcases its jewel: the Parish Church of Santa Margherita and its historic organ.

The Church of Santa Margherita and the Serassi organ

The parish church, recognizable from afar by its 44-meter-high bell tower, is the result of an ambitious 18th-century project: the first stone was blessed on June 2, 1762, and the church was consecrated in 1785. Inside, it guards a treasure: the 1787 Serassi organ, installed by Andrea Luigi Serassi of Bergamo. It is the first two-manual organ built in the Savoyard territory and, among the over two hundred instruments produced by the Serassi workshop, it is by far the best preserved. A masterpiece of 18th-century Padan organ-building, recently restored to its original splendor through philological work.

Between stone and spirituality: the hike

Alongside visits to the churches, the program offers a circular route along the historic trails that surround the village. Starting from Via Roma, the heart of the village where the community wrote its history of autonomy and resistance, the path winds through dry-stone walls and scenic viewpoints over the Dora Baltea valley. An easy itinerary designed for walkers of all levels, combining the naturalistic dimension with the spiritual and historical heritage of the territory.

The Confraternity and the organ event

The Confraternity Church - whose Confraternity of the Disciplinati was established in 1540 - hosts the special weekend event dedicated to listening to and learning about the Serassi instrument, with a presentation of historical and technical aspects by an organologist and a commented listening session by an organist. Visits are accompanied by FAI volunteers, and members are also invited to climb up to the choir loft.

Why attend

• Discover a masterpiece of 18th-century European organ art.
• Walk along the historic trails of the Canavese region amidst stone architecture and views of the Dora Baltea.
• Support FAI in the protection of Italian heritage.

An ideal appointment for those who love to combine nature, history, and music in an authentic corner of Piedmont.