MineraLuserna

MineraLuserna, the mineral heart of Val Pellice

MineraLuserna is one of Piedmont's most important mineralogy events: a trade fair dedicated to minerals, gems, fossils, and meteorites that attracts collectors, researchers, enthusiasts, and families every year to Torre Pellice, in the heart of Val Pellice near Turin. The event takes place at the Palaghiaccio Olimpico Cotta Morandini, a spacious venue that hosts exhibitor stands and dedicated educational areas.

An international showcase for collectors

The core of the event is the large trade fair, featuring over one hundred exhibitors from Italy as well as Morocco, Pakistan, India, and Switzerland. Among the stalls, you will find crystals, semi-precious stones, gems, mineral samples, and fossils for every budget, from small souvenirs to high-end collector's pieces. Alongside the merchants, various associations, museums, and scientific institutions exhibit their collections, making MineraLuserna much more than just a market.

Science, museums, and outreach

The event involves leading institutions: the University of Turin with its Department of Earth Sciences, the Regional Museum of Natural Sciences of Turin, the Paleontological Museum of Asti, and the Geological Museum of Fossano. The National Institute for Astrophysics presents an exhibition dedicated to meteorites that have fallen in Piedmont, while thematic displays range from industrial archaeology curated by Aurelio Sartor to wildlife photography of Val Pellice by Beppe Boccardo.

Workshops and quarry visits

MineraLuserna has a strong educational focus. Numerous workshops and guided tours for schools and the public provide a hands-on approach to Earth sciences:

• fluvial gold panning with the Oro in Natura association;
• workshops on discovering fossils in nature;
• activities focused on underground geology and soil cultivation;
• a nature photography course for minerals with Roberto Appiani;
• guided tours of the historic Luserna stone quarries accompanied by geologists and industry experts.

A free event for the whole family

Admission to the exhibition is free, and the event is designed for expert enthusiasts as well as families and children, who can participate in workshops and discover the secrets of stones and minerals. Organized by the Sën Gian Association with the patronage and support of the Metropolitan City of Turin, MineraLuserna is now a staple of the Piedmontese spring and an opportunity to promote the Val Pellice region and its tradition linked to the extraction of the famous Luserna stone.