Ingria, a mountain jewel of the Val Soana

Ingria, in the heart of the Val Soana and immersed in the Gran Paradiso National Park, is a mountain village at 1,000 meters above sea level, surrounded by chestnut groves and picturesque hamlets. The origin of its name is uncertain: it may derive from the Lombard Ingrich or from the Latin ingredire, linked to the Romanesque bridge that marks the entrance to the valley.

Its thirty hamlets, lying on the slopes of the valley, preserve stone chalets with lòse roofs, streams, and authentic views. Among summer flowers, woods, and memories carved in stone, Ingria represents the ancient and evocative face of the Canavese.

What to see in Ingria

Ingria offers numerous historical and cultural highlights to enjoy in the enchanting landscape of the Val Soana. Standing out is the bell tower of 1719, located in front of the parish church of San Giacomo, which is the symbol of the village. Two ancient trades are illustrated in dedicated displays: the itinerant tinker, who repaired pots and copper objects, and the Mazon dla Gra, the chestnut drying house used to produce flour.

At the entrance to the village, garages and sheet metal transformed into murals enhance contemporary art. In Mombianco stands the small Church of the Shroud (1647), with an external fresco by Jacques Peradotto and a seventeenth‑century painting depicting the Holy Shroud, the Black Madonna of Oropa, angels, and saints, surrounded by summer geraniums and hydrangeas.

Events that enliven the village

Ingria celebrates traditions, flavors, and nature with unique events. On August 12, Cose d’altri tempi – Tchouse d’auti ten, a Franco‑Provençal festival with music, dancing, and ancient crafts, takes place along the village streets. In summer and autumn, festivals dedicated to potatoes, polenta, and chestnuts highlight mountain cuisine; Ingria is among the founders of the “Cities of the Potato.” As a “flowering municipality,” the village and its hamlets are adorned with flowers, participating in the international Communities in Bloom competition. Not to be missed are the typical Spalletta di Ingria cured meat and outdoor activities such as mountain biking and climbing in the Belvedere hamlet.

Le case raccontano – Le mazon i contiont is a permanent open‑air exhibition where, walking through the village streets, one encounters panels with numerous old black‑and‑white photographs accompanied by captions in Franco‑Provençal patois and Italian.

Not to be missed around Ingria

Ingria is the starting point for several trekking routes. Among them are those leading to Punta Arbella and Monte Betassa.

Also worth discovering is the route to the hamlets of Codebiollo, which connects to the trails of the Alta Via Canavesana. Hikers can stop in the hamlet of Bech and rest in a bivouac. Nearby stands an exhibition of the ancient customs and traditions of the Valverdassa and Valle di Codebiollo: the Ecomuseum, where work tools, period clothing, and everyday objects are preserved.

And now, pack your bags and set off for Ingria!

Photo credits: Hagai Agmon‑Snir – CC BY‑SA 4.0