International Chimney Sweep Gathering

The gathering of the "black men" in Val Vigezzo

Every year, in early September, the village of Santa Maria Maggiore, in the heart of Val Vigezzo (Province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Piedmont), becomes the world capital of chimney sweeps. The International Chimney Sweep Gathering attracts over a thousand participants from dozens of countries, who spend four days enlivening the streets of the village and the entire valley with parades, music, and re-enactments. It is one of the most well-known events in Piedmont, drawing tens of thousands of visitors each edition.

Why here?

Val Vigezzo has been known for centuries as the "valley of the chimney sweeps". From this remote corner of the Piedmontese Alps, since the 16th century, entire generations of men and children set off for Europe, destined for a grueling trade made of cold, soot, and toil. The Gathering, organized by the National Chimney Sweep Association together with the Municipality and the Pro Loco of Santa Maria Maggiore, was born in 1982 as a re-enactment and tribute to this history of emigration and labor, preserved also by the Chimney Sweep Museum, the only one of its kind in Italy, and the Regional Museum of Vigezzo Emigration in the World.

The grand Sunday parade

The highlight is the spectacular Sunday morning parade: over a thousand chimney sweeps, dressed in black and armed with ladders, scrapers, and iron balls, march through Piazza Risorgimento and the historic center to Piazza Gennari, accompanied by groups in traditional costumes and brass bands. On the village rooftops, the historical re-enactment of chimney cleaning takes place, while the afternoon is dedicated to concerts, interviews, and award ceremonies.

An event spread across the valley

The Gathering is not limited to Santa Maria Maggiore: in the days leading up to it, the chimney sweeps also parade in Druogno and pay homage to the Chimney Sweep Monument in Malesco, while the final day traditionally concludes with a parade in Orta San Giulio, on the shores of the picturesque Lake Orta. An itinerary that weaves the memory of the trade with some of the most beautiful landscapes in upper Piedmont.

An event for everyone

• Free parades open to all in the village streets
• Re-enactments of chimney cleaning on the rooftops
• Concerts and musical moments with groups and bands
• Visits to the Chimney Sweep Museum and the Emigration Museum
• Authentic alpine village festival atmosphere

Between popular tradition, folklore, and the identity of an entire community, the International Chimney Sweep Gathering is much more than a simple re-enactment: it is the way Santa Maria Maggiore and Val Vigezzo continue to share an unforgettable page of their history with the world.