Crissolo
Edited by:
Massimo Martini
Access
Crissolo can be reached by car from the Cuneo plain by driving along the Po Valley in the direction of Saluzzo, from which it is about 40 kilometres away. The roads, although mountainous, are well maintained and in the summer months the flow of tourists is also favoured by local bus lines. In winter, it is advisable to enquire about road conditions. The town offers various accommodation facilities, from alpine refuges to village inns, and is the starting point for numerous excursions: from the easy path leading to the source of the Po to the more challenging climbs towards Monviso and the ridges marking the border with France.
.Introduction
Crissolo is a small mountain municipality in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont, nestled in the heart of the Po Valley, right on the slopes of Monviso. With an altitude of 1,100 metres and a territory that reaches up to the 3,841 metres of the highest peak of the Cottian Alps, it is the highest municipality in the entire valley. The settlement develops around three main nuclei - Villa, municipal seat; Serre, seat of the parish; and Borgo - to which are added numerous hamlets scattered at altitude, such as Serre Uberto, Ciampagna and Pian del Re. This territory, traversed over the centuries by shepherds, merchants, pilgrims and mountaineers, is today a destination for tourists and walkers attracted by high altitude landscapes, millenary history and strong religious traditions.
Description
The territory of Crissolo is deeply marked by the presence of Monviso, which dominates the landscape with its unmistakable pyramid shape. At its foot are extraordinarily varied high mountain environments, including alpine pastures, stony ground, glacial basins and springs. Among the best known places is the Pian del Re, where the river Po has its source, and which is a privileged starting point for excursions and traverses to the Quintino Sella Refuge or to the Buco di Viso, a historic tunnel opened in 1480 to facilitate passage through the Guil valley, now French territory. This tunnel testifies to the strategic and commercial importance of the area since the Middle Ages, a time when Crissolo was a fief of the Marquises of Saluzzo and a point of passage between Piedmont and Provence.
The first human presence in the area dates back to the Iron Age, and there is evidence of presences in Roman times as well. The spiritual heart of the municipality is the Sanctuary of San Chiaffredo, built - according to tradition - on the site where the body of the martyred saint was laid to rest. Rebuilt in the 15th century in Gothic forms, it still preserves valuable stone capitals and the coat of arms of the marquises, while today's façade is the result of a 20th-century renovation that unfortunately erased some original parts, such as the bell tower. San Chiaffredo, patron saint of the Saluzzo diocese, still attracts pilgrims from all over the region, especially on the occasion of the September feast.
The economy of Crissolo, once linked to mountain pasture, sheep farming and small-scale mountain agriculture, underwent a profound transformation starting in the second half of the 19th century, when mountaineering began to bring Italian and foreign travellers to the valley, fascinated by the mass of Monviso. This season ushered in a slow but continuous tourist development that was also consolidated in the winter months thanks to the construction of ski lifts and ski slopes. Today Crissolo is a tourist centre with a hiking vocation, able to welcome those seeking high altitude walks, historical itineraries and direct contact with nature.
The local culture is still strongly linked to religious and peasant traditions. Patronal festivals dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and Saint Chiaffredo punctuate the liturgical year with celebrations, processions and community moments. Craftsmanship, although scaled down, survives in woodworking and the production of everyday objects typical of the Alpine environment. There is no shortage of traditional dishes linked to the mountain cuisine of southern Piedmont, in which polenta, mountain pasture cheeses and chestnuts tell stories of a simple, hardy life.
Technical data:
Information
Area: 49.04 km²
Altitude: 1,100m
Maximum elevation: 3,841 m - Monviso
Number of inhabitants: 249 (as of 31.12.2024)
Name in dialect: Crissol
Name in dialect: Crissolesi
Patron Saint: St. John the Baptist, St. Chiaffredo
Neighbouring towns: Bagnolo Piemonte, Bobbio Pellice, Oncino, Ostana, Pontechianale, Ristolas, Villar Pellice
Website: