The Heart of the Mountain

The Heart of the Mountain: a month to experience the Ligurian Alps

The Heart of the Mountain is a widespread festival that, from May 1st to June 7th, transforms Ormea and the entire Upper Tanaro Valley into a vast open-air stage. Promoted by the Municipality of Ormea and the Alta Val Tanaro Mountain Union, in collaboration with local associations, the event invites residents and visitors to slow down, breathe in the air of the Ligurian Alps, and rediscover the valley in a slow and authentic way.

Seven souls, one territory

The calendar is divided into several thematic areas that intertwine nature, sports, culture, and taste. For over a month, there is a succession of guided hikes, mountain bike outings, rock climbing, family-friendly walks, photography exhibitions, film screenings, conferences, theatrical performances, and choral music. There is no shortage of land-based experiences: foraging for wild herbs, meetings with geologists and scholars, environmental education activities, and workshops for adults and children.

• Nature and sports: nature hikes, MTB trails, rock climbing, mountain running, and mountain therapy, with outdoor yoga and wellness;
• Culture and traditions: photography exhibitions, mineral displays from around the world, round tables like "Men and Mountains," book presentations, and screenings;
• Food and wine: traditional lunches and dinners in the valley's mountain huts, from Chionea to Mongioie, from Pian dell'Arma to Quarzina;
• Environment and science: conferences dedicated to balanced forests, geological lectures, beekeeping, and visits to local springs and caves.

The grand finale: Corpus Domini and the floral decoration of Via Roma

The festival culminates between late May and early June with a crescendo of participation and tradition. Craft markets, community gatherings, and the Corpus Domini celebrations involve the entire village: the heart of the festival is the ancient floral decoration of Via Roma, when residents weave golden laburnum flowers into garlands suspended between houses, creating a ceiling of flowers under which the historic procession winds. The festival is crowned by a brass band concert and fireworks.

Ormea, an alpine village in the heart of Piedmont

Nestled where the Tanaro Valley becomes narrower and wilder, Ormea is one of the most evocative villages in the province of Cuneo and the entire Piedmont region: a maze of medieval alleys, frescoed churches, and stone houses framed by the peaks of the Ligurian Alps. The Heart of the Mountain is the ideal opportunity to discover it in its greenest season, when the trails fill with color and the mountain huts reopen their doors to hikers.