Hello everyone!!! It is becoming a nice tradition to devote the August article to a nice outing to do with your loved ones, whether children, companions or friends! In this hot and sultry month of August, I have scouted out a new fabulous trail. I present to you: The Nigellas’ Trail!

The Langhe: a fairytale landscape!

In Italy, in Piedmont, between the provinces of Asti and Cuneo, lies a gem of an area called the “Langhe“. This hilly landscape has nothing to envy the beautiful and far more famous Tuscan hills.

Between the Alta Langa, Bassa Langa and Langa Astigiana, stretches an area rich in nature, culture and gastronomic excellence.

In Bassa Langa, up to an elevation of about 600 meters above sea level, the undisputed capital is Alba (Cn), famous for its fine wines and the white truffle that the world envies us. In Alta Langa, in the villages from 600 to 900 meters above sea level, on the other hand, we find the “tonda e gentile” (round and gentle) hazelnut (Piedmontese excellence) to be the star.

A trip to these lands gives many emotions and repays with its splendid gastronomy the most demanding and hungry palates after so much sport or so much beauty for the eyes. This is the perfect place to create a Fairy T(r)ail where wood carvings of people and animals accompany our journey through a beautiful shady forest!

The Nigellas’ Trail: a new attraction in Niella Belbo (Cn)

At the end of May 2024, in the village of Niella Belbo, in the province of Cuneo, this beautiful trail was opened. A trail that can be completed as a loop in at most an hour.

It is said that in the past the name of the village of Niella was derived directly from Nigella (Belbo, on the other hand, is because of the river that runs through this area), the Nigella Sativa (Fennel flower) in particular, which is a herb that grows wild and abundant in these areas.

So that explains the curious name and the wonderful idea of representing these beautiful flowers as woodland fairies! The story you will discover on this ancient trail is a fairy tale told by colorful explanatory panels with even Braille lettering to make this trail, as accessible as possible to everyone.

The trail begins at the Chapel of San Bernardino at 833 meters, where you will find all the information about the trail itself and other trails that can be done in the area. The elevation gain is negligible, only 45 meters, so it is doable for anyone, but it is certainly for dreamers, children and woodcarvers!

If you wish, you can lengthen the walk by starting from the Sanctuary of the Madonna dei Monti (year 1710 erected after a Marian apparition), following the paved road dedicated to the memory of the well-known industrialist Michele Ferrero of Alba (founder of the world-renowned confectionery company: Ferrero), to the Chapel of San Bernardino (year 1664).

Barba Brisiu’s wood carvings: art in the woods

All the wood carvings on the trail were done by an old acquaintance of the blog, Barba Brisiu. His work spreads like wildfire throughout Piedmont and, as in the Gnome Path I told you about years ago, this walk is a new ovation to all his imagination and skill in the art of chainsaw carving.

As we follow the steps of the little girl Aria who got lost in the woods, we ourselves meet the people, fairies and animals who helped her find her daddy.

The forest is stunning, the trees are all very old, some of them centuries old, and the vistas offer views of the valley below and the mountains of the Alps in the distance.

The statues are at human height, and many are companion to comfortable benches where you can sit and be enveloped by nature and the rejuvenating coolness of the forest. Each statue is meticulously detailed, colorful and artfully carved. The expressions and forms of the subjects can be cause for study.

Looking carefully, it is beautiful to imagine creating such magnificent sculptures. I have never tried chainsaw sculpture myself, but I am strongly attracted to it. I find so much teaching that can be absorbed from these beautiful works. It changes the tool we use to make them (chainsaw or knife), but we create similar subjects: animals, gnomes, people…

Whenever I stop to look at Barba Brisiu‘s works I find myself enraptured, observing how easy it all seems. Every slit seems so natural, so obvious. And then it amazes how this set of messy, non-harmonious lines and curves, taking one step back, become a perfect, expressive face.

A magical experience for all

Whenever I lose inspiration I visit of will paths like this one to find the strength to go on and be amazed again at what a wonderful thing it is to work with wood. There is no art that, like this one, can satisfy my imagination.

It’s like painting or drawing: there, in that moment, you can create anything you want and in whatever style you like. But with wood, everything you drew comes out and you find it in front of you: you can touch the slits in those eyes, feel the wrinkles in the expression, and if before you might have thought it was just fantasy, there it is in front of you, real.

I wish I could have had more contact with wood and carving as a child, so I empathize with the children of today who have this wonderful opportunity given by these nature trails.

I wonder what they think of these sculptures, will they feel like they are living a dream? How many times will they get to touch the little nose of a smiling bunny? From fairy tales, to being able to touch it? And tell me this is not magic!

I made a video of my walk, so I won’t show you all of it, but I hope you enjoy the taste so much that it will lead you to try it for yourself!

… in order not to forget…

These areas are not only famous for their natural beauty and gastronomic excellence, but also for being the birthplace of a famous Italian writer, translator and partisan, Beppe Fenoglio. Born in Alba, Fenoglio captured the essence of these lands in his stories, making the landscapes and atmosphere of the Langhe immortal through his works.

In honor of Fenoglio, several local municipalities, such as Alba, Mango, Santo Stefano Belbo and Murazzano, have created literary itineraries dedicated to him. These itineraries allow readers to immerse themselves in the places that inspired his stories, offering a unique experience of connecting literature and territory.

Walking these paths, one can find the same atmosphere and scenery described in his books, making reading an even more vivid and tangible experience.

For example, in Santo Stefano Belbo, (very close to Niella Belbo) it is possible to walk the paths that Fenoglio describes in his stories, experiencing firsthand the emotions and stories that marked people’s lives during the Resistance.

These routes not only celebrate Fenoglio’s literary legacy, but also offer a way to explore the beauty of the Langa through an additional lens, the historical and cultural one. It is a journey that enriches the soul and offers a deeper understanding of the bond between humankind  and its environment.

So as you explore the Nigellas Trail and become fascinated by the wood carvings, remember that you are walking in a land that has inspired stories of courage, resilience and immortal beauty.

Here are the route data and where to find detailed information:

• Location: Niella Belbo, Piedmont, Italy
• Information from the Municipality: tourist information, trails information
• Altitude: 833 meters (San Bernardino Chapel)
• Length: Approximately 2 km
• Height difference: 45 meters
• Duration: About 1 hour
• Accessibility: Loop trail, suitable for all, with explanatory panels in Braille
• Points of interest: Wood carvings, scenic views, benches along the trail, picnic area, nature trail. Nearby a giant bench and many other trails.

See you all next month! Have a great vacation! 🤗😘😎