We continue on the Grande Traversata delle Alpi, with a medium-length stage, very easy and with moderate height differences: pleasant and restful.
Interesting is the small museum housed inside the ancient Waldensian Temple, in the hamlet of Ghigo.
We proceed downhill on the road towards Massello. After passing Piccolo Passet, we take the GTA path on the right which descends to the bottom of the valley and crosses the Germanasca stream by the mill. We continue on the GTA in the valley and we briefly resume the road. We reach Campo la Salza, from where we continue to take the easy path that climbs towards the Gianna Gallery, a former mine.
After a short cross path, we start the track in the woods which, cutting the carriage road, goes up (approximately 300 m height difference) regularly up to the Colletto delle Fontane (1,973 m). The hill is quite popular and offers beautiful views of the narrow valley below. We resume the path on the ridge, climbing slightly (approximately 100 m height difference) up to Colle di Serrevecchio, then we lose altitude (approximately 300 m drop) towards Rodoretto.
We cross the valley floor and get back on the climb (approximately 250 m height difference). We gain the ridge on an easy path in the woods, with a beautiful view of the Val Germanasca. It is the best place where to have a bite to eat. Finally, a comfortable hillside descent leads us to the hamlet of Cugno, from which we take the road to Ghigo di Prali.
In Prali, the last village in the Germanasca Valley, there is Agape, a Waldensian ecumenical center. It is a place of political and theological confrontation for young people from different countries and religious faiths: from the 1950s onwards, numerous forums were held here and dedicated to dialogue between Europe and Africa, contact with socialist countries, the Middle East question, gender and sexual orientation.
The purpose of this center was summarized as follows by its founder, the Waldensian pastor Tullio Vinay: "Agape is a place where people meet and spend a short period of common coexistence, in search of fraternal love".
The Waldensian Temple was built in 1556, in the hamlet of Ghigo di Prali: it is one of the symbolic places of the Italian Waldensian community, that has developed exactly in these valleys, as well as the only Waldensian church not to have suffered fire or destruction.
In 1701 it was equipped with a bell tower ... but not with a bell. Since 1965, it has housed the Waldensian Historical Museum. For more info, timetables and tickets, follow the LINK.
The supa barbetta is a traditional dish of the Waldensians of these areas.
It is prepared by wetting breadsticks with meat broth, covering everything with Piedmontese toma cheese and grated parmesan, then seasoning with spiced melted butter.
It is a very old dish, suitable for cold alpine winters.
Hotel delle Alpi (GTA stopover), in Ghigo di Prali. Tel. +39 0121 807537
Campeggio Lago Verde, in the hamlet of Pomieri di Prali (1.5 km from Ghigo di Prali, along the next stage). Tel. +39 0121 807431
Starting point reachable by car.
Departure point NOT reachable by bus.
The nearest location reachable by bus is Massello, starting from the city of Turin with a change in Perosa and then Perrero.
Here the LINK to check the timetables.
Starting point NOT reachable by train.
Va' Sentiero is a grassroot project, thanks to the spontaneous contribution oft housands of people.
Even the most complicated dream, a 7,000km uphill dream,
can be achieved... together.
Grazie!
