Itineraries30 April 2018

Spring events at the Parco Fluviale di Cuneo [Video & photo gallery]

Ten municipalities, over 4000 hectares of land, 60 km of river and almost 100,000 inhabitants. But the Gesso and Stura River Park is not only this, it represents above all a link between the mountain area and the plain.

Credits Facebook site

Regional protected area established by the Piedmont Region in February 2007, with management entrusted to the Municipality of Cuneo, in reality it is a Park that "comes from below", because the original idea is actually recognized to citizens of Cuneo who already in 1979 with letters and petitions, had urged the Administration to enhance the territory of the rivers.

The Park enshrines environments and areas with many different characteristics, for this it has been called an "environmental mosaic": from nature reserves oriented to the conservation of the environment, to areas equipped for sport, teaching and leisure. All in relation to the social function that the Park assumes as a tool for improving the quality of life of citizens. In fact, the Park intends to become the engine of an exclusive and fully sustainable tourism and economic development for the territory, as well as a precious safeguard and defense tool for that territory.

For this reason, the Park's management activity is divided into three main areas: the protection and enhancement of natural river areas; the organization of activities for the promotion and involvement of the population, so that the Park is lived and attended for educational, recreational and socializing purposes (the place assigned to all this is above all its "Casa del Fiume", the Park's environmental education center) and those for the implementation of structural interventions on the territory, from cycle paths to equipped areas, to hydraulic maintenance of the river.

[Credits Facebook site]

May brings with it a big news this year, with an unprecedented event entirely dedicated to what is certainly one of the most fascinating scientific topics: flight. On Friday 11th and Saturday 12th May the Casa del Fiume will be transformed into a real flight headquarters for "Flying. On the wings of the wind ", a special two days full of surprises and themed activities. In fact, a Museum of Flight will be set up, with a school plane, a balloon bag, a hang-glider, a paraglider, kites and much more. There will be an "Experimenta" area with experiments and practical demonstrations of animal, plant and human flight, and still carrier pigeons, music and theme readings, projection of docu-film, release of nocturnal birds of prey, thematic stands and to close, Saturday in the late afternoon, the grand finale, whose details will be revealed in the coming weeks. Furthermore, on Friday and Saturday mornings there will be a school program dedicated to medium and high schools, with free participation but with limited places and compulsory registration. The entire initiative, promoted by the Municipality of Cuneo and the River Park, conceived by La Fabbrica dei Suoni in collaboration with Cicap Cuneo and realized with the contribution of Cuneo Levaldigi Airport, is free and costless.

[Credits Facebook site]

But May brings with it many other events, from "Vita da api" (life of bees), the visit to the didactic apiary of the Park, to "Ti-sana", an evening to discover the properties and benefits of the herbal tea, with the help of an herbalist, then again "This is my country", a walk through history and nature from Quiot Rosa to Paraloup, and "Bouquet of sweets", a special workshop for the whole family. Naturally, the Park also proposes for this Spring many creative and naturalistic workshops for children, at the Casa del Fiume or in the Municipalities of the Park, for all tastes and ages. "Challenge to the latest invention", for example, is designed for the older ones from 8 to 12 years, while "Jewels of nature" is the workshop for children from 3 to 6, on the occasion of the Mother's Day, to name just a couple.

[Credits Facebook site]

In addition, the Park is partner of "L'Orto delle Arti" and it proposes activities under the banner of sport, between cycling and trekking. Then again, thanks to the collaboration with Cuneofotografia, space to photography, between workshops and evenings at the Casa del Fiume.

[Credits Facebook site]

To close, in June it will be the turn of "Profumo di lavanda", two meetings in collaboration with the farm "La Rupe" of Roccavione, focusing on the properties and uses of lavender, "Tutti all'orto", the opening extraordinary of the Didactic Garden, and "All by bike", excursion for families from Cuneo to Sant'Albano Stura, towards the "La Madonnina" Nature Reserve.