Festa della Piana — San Pietro in Vincoli and Madonna della Neve Festival

The patronal feast of Issiglio, in the heart of the Valchiusella valley

The Festa della Piana is the most anticipated summer event in Issiglio, a small town in the Valchiusella valley within the Metropolitan City of Turin, Piedmont. It is the town's patronal feast, dedicated to San Pietro in Vincoli and the Madonna della Neve, traditionally spanning the last two weeks of July through the first days of August, with the main feast day celebrated at the beginning of the month.

The Piana and the 1841 chapel

The festivities are held on a plateau that the locals simply call "la Piana," located along the provincial road connecting Issiglio to Castelnuovo Nigra. Here stands a small 1841 chapel dedicated to the Madonna della Neve, the spiritual heart of the event. It is in this green space, nestled in the rolling hills of the Canavese region, that the festival's pavilions and stands are set up each year.

A renowned gastronomic festival

For decades, the Festa della Piana has been primarily a gastronomic festival renowned throughout the area, drawing numerous visitors from neighboring towns every year. In the open-air pavilions, guests can enjoy grilled meats accompanied by musical evenings, while a traditional fried fish night is organized for seafood lovers. Among the most popular dishes are grilled ribs, a genuine expression of convivial Canavese cuisine.

Music, dancing, and tournaments

The festival combines religious devotion with popular recreation. Throughout the evenings, there are musical and dance events featuring ballroom orchestras, which are very popular with the local public. There is no shortage of sports and leisure activities: the festival traditionally offers bocce tournaments, competitions in traditional games like pinnacola and scopa, and a cross-country race through the hills surrounding the town.

The procession of the Madonna della Neve

The most heartfelt moment remains the traditional procession in honor of the Madonna della Neve, which takes place in the evening, winding through the town and the Piana with a candlelight parade, renewing a devotion deeply rooted in the Issiglio community. It is the core identity of a festival that, despite its small-town scale, keeps the bond between faith, tradition, and social life intact.

Organization

The Festa della Piana is organized by the Pro Loco Filarmonica Issigliese, which manages the community life of Issiglio throughout the year, from the local Carnival to theatrical and dance evenings. The patronal feast represents the culmination of this commitment and is one of the most vibrant occasions to discover the hospitality of the Valchiusella valley.