Hike to Monte Fenera among caves, towns and its peak

The itinerary winds along the western side of Monte Fenera, the oldest prehistoric site in Piedmont, included in the Natural Park of the same name, protected by the Sesia Valley Protected Areas Management Authority.

Mount Fenera is mainly made up of sedimentary rocks: an extraordinary testimony to when the sea still invaded the Po Valley until it reached the valleys and right here, in Valsesia, it deposited various sediments, so much so that it is possible to find forms of molluscs and subtropical flora.

This place is full of particularities, among all the numerous caves formed following the phenomenon of karst, that is, the chemical process that water exerts on particular rocks, in this case limestone-dolomite rocks. The water penetrates deeper and deeper, creating galleries, wells and caves, even large ones.

In the Ciotarun Cave, the remains of the Cave Bear, bison, hyena and even numerous human remains were found, including a tooth, a sign of the presence of Neanderthal man, who lived here about 300,000 years ago. Today these remains are exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Turin.

Numerous remains attributed to Neanderthal man have also been found in the Grotta della Ciota Ciara, or "clear cave". This cave has, in the Tower Room, spectacular stalactites and stalagmites and the Bat Room, as the name indicates, is frequented by bats who spend part of their lives here.

The caves are not free to access.

go to the map

ITINERARIUM
shop

With your purchase you support ITINERARIUM's project, which will keep telling about our territory, its beauties, its history and its curiosities, always keeping all of the information free for everyone!

Illustrations

Pins

Women
of Ossola