Locana

Access

The municipality can be reached from Turin in about an hour by car, driving up the Valle Orco via the former state road . The nearest airports are Turin Caselle and, further away, Milan. There are no direct railway stations: the closest connection is by railway line to Rivarolo Canavese, continuing by bus. The local road system allows easy access to the hamlets and departure points for excursions and cultural visits, with a network of car parks that favours mobility, especially during peak tourist periods.

Introduction

Locana, located in the heart of the Orco Valley, is part of the metropolitan city of Turin and is the largest municipality in the entire area, with a surface area of 132.8 km². The territory, on the northern border with Valle d'Aosta and to the south with the Valli di Lanzo, is characterised by its central position in the valley, its wealth of natural environments and a geographical conformation that alternates between valley floors, vast wooded areas, alpine pastures and a succession of alpine peaks, such as the Gran San Pietro Tower (3,692 m), the highest point in the municipality, which is part of the famous chain of the Apostles in the Gran Paradiso Group.

Description

Locana is located at an average altitude of 613 metres above sea level and is made up of around one hundred hamlets, many of which have notable historical features, such as preserved Romanesque bridges, ancient churches (including San Pietro in Vincoli with its medieval bell tower) and villages that bear witness to a mountain life rooted in local traditions. The main town centre, known as 'la Villa', houses the main services, the parish church and the town hall.
A significant part of the territory falls within the protected area of the Gran Paradiso National Park, ensuring the protection of alpine environments, glacial lakes and a particularly important biodiversity. The northern strip is in fact known for the presence of important valleys such as Piantonetto, Valsoera and Teleccio, a privileged destination for hikers, mountaineers and trekking enthusiasts along multi-path itineraries such as the Grande Traversata delle Alpi (GTA) and the Alta Via del Canavese (AVC). The area offers numerous routes, refuges, bivouacs and is characterised by environments where nature is the protagonist, from panoramic views to centuries-old forests.
Locana has, according to recent data, 1,323 inhabitants (2023), called 'locanesi'. At the end of the 19th century, the population exceeded 6,000, a figure that testifies to the profound social and economic transformations in the Piedmont mountains, accentuated by the constant decrease in inhabitants. The name Locana derives, in its Piedmontese and Franco-Provençal variants, from "Locan-a" and "Lukënna".
Cultural life is marked by festivals and traditions that are still very much alive: the most heartfelt is the celebration of the Madonna del Cantellino (Nativity of the Virgin Mary), on the first Sunday in September; the patron saint is San Pietro in Vincoli. In July, the Festa della Montagna (Mountain Festival) is held, while during the Christmas festivities, an evocative exhibition of nativity scenes made from different materials is set up in the hamlet of Chironio. Pilgrimages are also important, such as the one to the Sanctuary of Sant'Anna (1,481 m a.s.l.) on the last Sunday in July.
The local economy is historically linked to mountain agriculture, livestock breeding, forestry and small-scale craft production. In the 20th century, the construction of hydroelectric power stations and the tourist development of the mountain territories with the Cialma ski resort, reopened in 2008, helped to diversify activities. In recent decades, Locana has promoted initiatives for the recovery of historic Alpine villages and the relaunch of hiking, with a focus on sustainable tourism and outdoor experiences (hiking, canyoning, sport fishing, climbing, mountain biking, ski mountaineering).
From an environmental and landscape point of view, Locana is rich in curiosities and places that preserve local memory: the 'Crus dal fòo' (beech cross) above Piandemma, a sacred landmark where a mass is celebrated every August in memory of those who fell in the mountains; the hamlet of Fornolosa, which due to a particular orographic conformation remains without sun for almost four months of the year; the historic hamlets (more than 90), each with its own historical and naturalistic peculiarities. The Piantonetto valley, with its peaks and glaciers, is one of the areas most appreciated by hikers for the variety of routes and the presence of shelters.
Locana represents a centre of interest not only in terms of landscape, but also in terms of culture and history, thanks to a heritage of stories, legends, traditions and testimonies of an Alpine community that has been able to preserve elements of strong local identity.

Information

Area: 132.8 km²
Altitude: 613m
Maximum elevation: 3,692m - Torre del Gran San Pietro
Number of inhabitants: 1.323 (as at 31 December 2023)
Name in dialect: Locan-a; in Franco-Provençal: Lukënna
 Name of inhabitants: Locanesi
Patron Saint: San Pietro in Vincoli (first Sunday in August) - feast of Madonna del Cantellino (first Sunday in September)
Bordering municipalities: Noasca, Ribordone, Sparone, Ceresole Reale, Pont Canavese, Ingria, Groscavallo (TO), Valprato Soana (TO), Ronco Canavese (TO), Locana also borders the Valle d'Aosta Region
Website: www.comune.locana.to.it

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