CERVATTO – Madonna del Balmone

This route partly coincides with the “Art Trail.” It touches on pretty hamlets and numerous oratories to arrive at the charming mountain shrine of Madonna del Balmone.

The itinerary starts from the village of Cervatto,1002m, traveling by road, approximately in 15 minutes, along Route 501 to Giavina, 1033m.

Here you start walking along the mule track on the right. You pass under the Consolata Oratory and shortly arrive at the small hamlet of Orlino, 1101m. Here several are the characteristic houses developed on many floors so as to make the most of the modest building area.

You then pass by where the church dedicated to St. Martin stands and enter the forest on a continuous ascent among oaks, firs and beeches to reach the small church of Saints Peter and Paul, 1184m.

One enters the valley dominated by Punta Castello, 2096m, then climbs gently there finding oneself in a short time in the meadows of the hamlet Taponaccio, 1236m. Crossing the surrounding meadows, the trail continues uphill and arrives, preceded by a characteristic renovated hut, at the sanctuary of Madonna del Balmone, dedicated to the Madonna of Oropa.