Valli Valdesi, Mountain valleys in Piedmont, Italy
Valli Valdesi is a group of three mountain valleys in Piedmont comprising the Pellice, Germanasca, and lower Chisone valleys that form a network of alpine terrain with stone villages and scattered agricultural settlements. The valleys display a consistently rural character with small hamlets, pastures, and terraced farmland across sloping terrain.
These valleys became a refuge for Waldensian communities starting in 1210 when Emperor Otto IV ordered their expulsion from other regions near Turin. This early sanctuary in remote mountains shaped the religious identity and social character of these communities for centuries to come.
The valleys today showcase handmade pasta preparation, textile crafts, and pottery work that visitors can observe in local workshops and village life. These daily practices have shaped how the communities are organized and how people interact with their surroundings.
The best time to explore is late spring through early autumn when hiking trails are accessible and weather remains stable. The villages lie relatively close together and can be reached on foot or by car, giving visitors flexibility when moving between them.
Local farmers still produce alpine cheese using methods passed down through generations that rely entirely on milk from animals grazing in these mountains. This traditional cheese-making remains one of the few crafts that has changed little since centuries past.
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