FAI Spring Days in Pecetto di Valenza

FAI Spring Days in Pecetto di Valenza

Twice a year, the FAI - Fondo per l'Ambiente Italiano (National Trust for Italy) throws open the doors to places that are usually closed or little-known, and the FAI Spring Days are the most anticipated event of all. In Pecetto di Valenza, a small town in the Province of Alessandria in the heart of the Piedmontese Monferrato, the event transforms the entire village into a widespread discovery trail, curated by the FAI Delegation of Casale Monferrato and the "Terre di Aleramo" Group.

An itinerary starting from Piazza Natta

The route begins in Piazza Natta and winds through the village alleys. Two churches take center stage: the Parish Church of Santi Maria e Remigio and the Church of the Santissima Trinità, both testaments to 18th-century Baroque sacred architecture. Diocesan volunteers accompany visitors, explaining the furnishings, artworks, and history of these buildings, which are often inaccessible throughout the year.

The sea in Pecetto: fossils and minerals

The village's true surprise is its paleontological soul. The "Il Mare a Pecetto" (The Sea in Pecetto) exhibition showcases fossil fish found in the local area, witnesses to the Miocene epoch when this hilly region was submerged by the sea. Alongside the paleontological finds, a rich collection of minerals from around the world completes the story of the earth and its deep history.

The village of Giuseppe Borsalino

Pecetto di Valenza is the birthplace of Giuseppe Borsalino (1834), founder of the famous hat factory that made the name "Borsalino" a global synonym for elegance and Italian craftsmanship. Strolling through the village, you can breathe in this industrial memory, an integral part of the identity of both the town and the Piedmont region.

A gaze towards the sky

To crown the visit, from the evocative tuff rock, it is possible to observe the sky thanks to the collaboration of the local Amateur Astronomers Group: a panoramic viewpoint that unites geology, landscape, and astronomy. Guiding visitors along the entire path are the Apprendisti Ciceroni, students trained by FAI who share the heritage of their own territory.

A heritage to protect

Participating in the FAI Spring Days in Pecetto di Valenza means supporting the FAI mission: the protection and promotion of Italy's artistic, historical, and landscape heritage. It is an opportunity to rediscover, just a few kilometers from Valenza and Alessandria, a village that guards sacred art, ancient fossils, and a grand industrial history.