AMClub – Staffarda Abbey and Balma Boves, October 24

Abbonamento Musei, in collaboration with Piemonturismo, is organizing a tour to explore the medieval abbey of Santa Maria di Staffarda in Revello and the museum village of Balma Boves.

Reservation options:

• online by clicking the blue “BOOK” button
• at our offices at CORSO SVIZZERA 185 – BUILDING 5 – STAIRCASE B – 1ST FLOOR – 10149 TURIN, MORNINGS ONLY, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with cash payment (please bring the exact amount; we cannot provide change since the office is not usually open to the public)
• By bank transfer; please email booking@piemonturismo.it to request the bank details, providing your first name, last name, tax ID number, residential address, and a phone number

We’ll depart from Turin at 7:30 a.m. at Piazza Statuto 15 (see map below) and head toward the village of Balma Boves.
Upon arrival, we’ll meet the guides who will lead us to the Museum Village along a mule trail—a walk of about 35 minutes.

This route begins at the cemetery plaza in the hamlet of Rocchetta di Sanfront.
Continue on foot uphill along the paved road for about 200 meters; continue on the paved road, following the signs for the hamlet for about 1 km, then turn onto the mule trail—closed to vehicular traffic—which, via a beautiful, nearly flat path through the chestnut forest, leads to the small square at Case Forano; from here, a final stretch along a cobblestone mule trail takes you to the hamlet.

Before our eyes appears Balma Boves, a quaint village built beneath a massive rock overhang, whose distinctive appearance—with its flat-roofed stone houses—is very reminiscent of the Native American pueblos of North America.

The site, now restored and transformed into an eco-museum, reveals the secret of this village’s ancient inhabitants: their close connection with nature, self-sufficiency, and the careful and wise use of natural resources such as water, stone, and the fruits of the earth. Even today, in fact, the tools, dwellings, stables, barns, chestnut drying rooms, fountains, and the old oven tell us of a time when these places bore witness to the so-called “chestnut civilization.”

Packed lunch (recommended) and departure forthe Abbey of Santa Maria di Staffarda in Revello, in the province of Cuneo: one of the most fascinating and important medieval monasteries in Piedmont. It was founded between 1122 and 1138. It was during this period, in the peaceful plains overlooking Mount Monviso, that the abbey’s original settlement was established within the territory of the ancient Marquisate of Saluzzo.

The Rule of St. Benedict, upon which the Cistercian Order is founded, emphasizes frugality: the rigor of the Rule is also reflectedin the monastery’s Roman-Gothic architecture.
Inside Staffarda Abbey, particularly in the church, one notices a slight structural asymmetry, designed to enhance the spirituality of the place. Stone and brick alternate to create recurring white and red patterns, and small red stars decorate the vaults of the naves. On the central vault, in particular, one can trace a sequence of symbols.
The cloister, partially surrounded by small columns, was the center of monastic life, as well as the connecting point between the various areas of the complex.
Outside, the façade with its four-arched portico —set slightly back from the rest of the structure—was added at a later stage. The abbey complex is completed by the guesthouse and the covered market.

At the end of the tour , we’ll head back to Turin (scheduled for around 6:00 p.m.).

Practical Information and Important Notes!

Special Notes – This trail is NOT accessible to people with mobility impairments. Access for people with mobility impairments is difficult and not recommended (the last part of the trail is on a rocky mule trail that cannot be bypassed).
Name Change – Name changes are only allowed up to 3 days in advance.
In Case of Bad Weather – Activities will take place even in case of bad weather; furthermore, the organizers reserve the right to adjust and reorganize the program as needed for organizational purposes.
Minimum Number of Participants – If the minimum number of participants (30) is not reached, the fees paid will be fully refunded or converted into vouchers.
Vouchers – Vouchers will be sent 3 days before departure.
Clothing – We strongly recommend wearing hiking or walking shoes when visiting the village.