Holiday apartment in San Damiano Macra: Mountain trails, festivals and culture

Holiday apartment in San Damiano Macra among trails, mountains and festivals

In San Damiano Macra, mountain landscapes, water, trails and cultural traditions come together. The area extends south as far as Rocca Cernauda, at an altitude of 2,282 m. South of the town centre lies Lago di San Damiano Macra, a small artificial basin created by damming the Maira River.

Discover mountain landscapes and water

Rocca Cernauda provides a distinctive landmark in the southern mountain landscape, while Lago di San Damiano Macra shows the side of the municipal area shaped by the Maira River. Together with the trails through the hamlets, this creates a destination that combines experiences in nature with insights into the landscape.

Hiking between hamlets and valleys

The Puy Trail is a scenic circular route that passes through several hamlets of San Damiano Macra. Another route is called Giro ad anello a San Damiano: it leads through the hamlets of Cogno and Biancera to the Chapel of San Chiaffredo in the hamlet of Roi in San Damiano Macra. A circular route between the Poca and Combamala valleys uses old paths and an access road to the hydroelectric facilities of the power station.

High-mountain cycling route with a distinctive route profile

For cycling tours, the Strada dei Cannoni is one of the area’s defining features. It is a 43 km high-mountain cycling route with 1,875 metres of elevation gain. At Borgata Chesta in the municipality of San Damiano Macra, the Strada dei Cannoni is connected to the town.

Historical traces and local culture

In Pagliero, the cemetery chapel preserves a Roman funerary inscription. In the hometown of the Zabreri master craftsmen, a baptismal font dating from 1450 and the capitals in the parish church are also worth seeing. These places and details complement the trail experiences with specific historical impressions, without limiting a stay to sporting activities.

Festivals throughout the year

The Festa dell’Autunno “Fiero di Quatre” is a market featuring local products from the mountain tradition and takes place in San Damiano. It is held on the fourth Sunday in October; dances and the distribution of “Mundai” are part of the event. The patronal festival of Saint Anthony of Padua takes place in the chapel of the same name above San Damiano on the penultimate Sunday in June. In Pagliero, a hamlet of San Damiano Macra, the festival of Saint Anthony is a recurring tradition and includes an auction of donated products and objects. The choral event “Chanten Mai”, organised by the “La Reis” choir, also takes place in spring.

More destinations for your planning

For further travel planning, you can also discover Manta, Melle, Clavesana, Foresto, Artesina, Grinzane Cavour, Sommariva Del Bosco and Acceglio.

To the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.