The agricultural and industrial centre and resort Venasca is surrounded by chestnut forests and owes its fame to the fruit of the trees. An autumn fair and a nationally renowned market are dedicated to these chestnuts. Already in the 10th century Venasca belonged to the bishop of Turin. Successively it became the fief of the Counts of Verzuolo, of the stirps named Venasca. The latter yielded in 1172 to the Margraves of Saluzzo and remained faithful to them. In 1601 Venasca came under the rule of the Savoyards, who gave it as a fief first to the Paillard (1601) and then to the Porporato (1622). In 1744 a battle between the French and the Savoyard troops took place on the Venasca territory. In 1799 it was the scene of an armed conflict between the French and the imperial troops of the Habsburgs.
The parish church, dedicated to the Ascension, was built in 1765 and is considered as an example of Piedmont Baroque. The brick façade, whose two parts are divided by a magnificent cornice, is surmounted by a high tambour with a small cupola. The interior with its octagonal floor plan is rich with polychrome marble and preserves frescos and decorations by Pietro Antonio Pozzi.
Venasca is also a rather active cultural centre, which is underlined by the fact that it houses the valley’s music school “Don Allemano” and the playful Sound Factory, Italy’s only experimental centre that is entirely dedicated to music.
Additional Informations Altitude: 550 m
Distance from Cuneo: 30 km
Weekly market: Monday
Residential centres and districts: Venasca, Bricco, S. Lucia
Patron saint: Saint Lucy, December 13 – Saint’s day: the third Sunday of September
Sport centres: indoor soccer fields, tennis (via 2 giugno), volleyball (via Ruffino), golf (Bricco), Boccia court
Services: bank, bancomat, pharmacy, rest area for campers and picnic area (via Provinciale Venasca – Brossasco), children’s playground (via Favole)
Summer sports: hiking, mountain-biking, biking, horseback riding, rock climbing (Rock Climbing Centre via Provinciale), golf
Fairs: the third Monday of every month (livestock), except winter months; Chestnut Fair, third Sunday of October
Municipality: tel. +39 0175/567.353
Tourist office: piazza Vineis 6. Tel. 349/2233378. Seasonal opening.
