San Giacomo: Mountain Trails, Winter Sports and Piedmontese Baroque

San Giacomo combines winter sports, scenic trails and Piedmontese culture within a compact area. Campo Scuola Giardina is located in the centre of San Giacomo and is suitable for people who are beginning to ski. In the Monte Alpet ski area, blue slopes are available for beginners, as well as red and black slopes for more experienced skiers. The lifts in the Sangiacomo Cardini ski area run from the village at 1,011 m up to Monte Alpet at 1,611 m. When choosing a holiday apartment in San Giacomo, the desired combination of short distances within the village, winter sports and excursions into the surrounding landscape can therefore play an important role.

Holiday apartment in San Giacomo for active and varied days

Different opportunities are also available outside the winter season. The route from Sangiacomo to Costacalda is a long, scenic and almost level walking trail along a mostly unpaved road that is completely surrounded by vegetation. It passes through beech forests and sunny meadows, crosses small streams and finally reaches Costacalda. The settlement of Manere, with its numerous stone houses, lies along this route. The walking trail also leads to Rifugio Maddalena above Vernagli.

Another point of reference for hikers is Route 04.13 from San Giacomo di Roburent to Vernagli. It takes 1:30 to 1:40 hours one way and is 5,995 m long. The route from San Giacomo to Vernagli can begin at the Chiesa di San Giacomo Apostolo; several car parks are available in San Giacomo. This makes it possible to take different tour lengths and landscape impressions into account when planning the day individually, without combining the trails into a single route.

Monte Alpet by Bike and Along Historic Trails

For cycling enthusiasts, Monte Alpet Bike Village offers five routes with increasing levels of difficulty. There is also a bicycle workshop, rentals of downhill, freeride and e-bikes, protective equipment rentals and a bicycle washing service. These specific services make the Bike Village a destination in its own right when planning an active day. The agricultural road Via dei Cannoni connects Sangiacomo with Monte Alpet and continues to Alpe Robert. Its name recalls the movement of weapons and equipment through this area during the Napoleonic invasion.

San Giacomo also has a pronounced historical and cultural side. The Chiesa di San Giacomo in San Giacomo was built in the mid-18th century in the Piedmontese Baroque style. It was probably built according to a design by Francesco Gallo, who came from Mondovì.

Landscape, Winter Trails and Regional Dining

The natural terrace of Sangiacomo offers views towards the plain and the Ligurian Alps. In winter, Baita Grupia can be reached from Croce dei Cardini by snowshoes or ski touring in about an hour. On the days when the ski lifts are operating, Baita Grupia on Monte Alpet is open and serves typical dishes, panini, hamburgers, desserts and cakes. This makes it possible to view sporting activities and regional dining as different elements of a day.

The XXVI edition of “Sangiacomo in Festival”, an international puppet theatre festival, is scheduled to take place in San Giacomo di Roburent from 26 July to 2 August 2026. The event combines puppet theatre performances with educational and social opportunities. Those choosing a holiday apartment or holiday home in San Giacomo can therefore plan their stay around winter experiences, hiking and cycling tours, historical discoveries or this scheduled cultural event.

Discover More Places

Also discover Madonna Della Neve, Roddi, Vezza D'alba, Ruà, Salmour, Piazza, Prine and Camo.

To the higher-level travel overview: Cuneo.