Eat and Walk — A Gastronomic Walk in Valsolda
Sunday, June 21, 2026
Description
On Sunday 21 June 2026 the Compagnia del Castello ETS organizes in Valsolda Eat and Walk, a gastronomic walk starting from the village of Castello and winding along the hillside paths towards the mountain villages above the town, alternating walking sections with three tasting stops along the way, in addition to a welcome breakfast at the start. Departure is scheduled between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. from Piazza Rusciett in Castello.
Departure from Castello
The meeting point is in Rusciett Square, in the heart of the village of Castello (Valsolda). The day begins right here with registration: this is where you pay the participation fee and receive the QR code that gives you access to the route map. Once registered, a welcome breakfast awaits participants, starting with a convivial moment, to kick off the day's social gathering.
Before setting off, the experience invites you to discover the village calmly: the price includes entry to the Pagani House Museum and the free visit to the Castle, including the Church of San Martino, testimonies of the historical and artistic heritage of Valsolda. The departure time is intentionally wide—from 9:30 to 10:30—to give everyone time to register, have breakfast, and visit the museum and church before setting off along the route towards Muzzaglio, and from there continuing on to the next stops. Each participant walks the route independently, at their own pace, following the route map, available both in an interactive version on your smartphone and in paper form: everyone chooses the one they prefer.
The route
The route climbs from Castello and continues along the hillside, along historic paths connecting the town to the mountain villages of Muzzaglio and Camporgna, which can be reached with a moderate elevation gain. The total distance is approximately 6 km, with an elevation gain of 300 meters and a difficulty rating of easy. The route is accessible even to those who aren't regular hikers, provided they are physically fit and have suitable footwear. The stages are fixed along the route: each participant walks at their own pace and stops in Muzzaglio, Camporgna, and San Rocco—the last stage before returning to Castello—without having to follow a group. The villages along the route preserve the historic rural layout of Valsolda, with buildings made of local stone, dry stone walls, and devotional shrines along the trails, nestled in the woods and meadows that characterize the slope.
Follow the route in real time
The route map is the day's orientation tool: everyone walks independently, at their own pace, following the route on their phone or, if they prefer, on the paper map provided at the start. At the start, you'll be given a QR code that gives you access to the interactive route map with GPX tracks. By enabling geolocation on your smartphone, you can follow the route in real time, viewing your position along the trail to easily navigate between stops. There's no need to install any apps.
What's included in the price
The €20 participation fee includes the entire day's experience: from the welcome to departure to the final stop, every moment is part of the journey.
- Welcome breakfast in Castello, in Piazza Rusciett, at the start
- Entrance to the Casa Pagani Museum and free visit to the village of Castello, including the church of San Martino
- Three tasting stages along the way:
- Muzzaglio — aperitif, arrosticini, pasta with pork ribs ragù, ratatouille
- Camporgna — taroz, polenta ounce, cheeses
- Saint Rocco — cakes, coffee, digestive
- QR code of the map of the route, delivered in the square at the time of registration
The return to Castello ends the day.
Practical information
- Date: Sunday, June 21, 2026
- Meeting: Castello (Valsolda), departure from 9:30 to 10:30
- Length: 6 km · Difference in altitude: 300 m · Difficulty: easy
- Format: individual walk along the marked trail, without a guide (interactive map from smartphone or paper)
- Participation fee€20 (includes welcome breakfast, entrance to the Casa Pagani Museum, and three tasting stops; to be paid upon departure)
- Registration: closed — maximum number of participants reached.
Hiking clothing, suitable shoes for the trail, a water bottle and a hat are recommended.
Registrations
🔒 Registration closed
We have reached the maximum number of registrations for Mangia e Cammina. Registration is closed and is no longer possible, neither online nor at the start. We thank you for your enthusiasm and apologize to those who were unable to register in time. We look forward to seeing you at the next edition!
An event born from the community
Eat and Walk is made possible by the collaboration of the Valsolda people and their friends and supporters of the Compagnia del Castello ETS. Their contributions, generosity, and passion for the area allow us to organize a day of celebration, walking, and fellowship. The association extends its thanks to them.
How to get there
The castle can be reached by car from Oria (Valsolda lakeside, going up for about 1 km along the panoramic road) or from Puria (going up towards the village from the higher hamlets). For parking, we recommend entering Puria side, near the cemetery.
Contact
For information: Cristina — tel. +39 335 5941769 — email compagniadelcastello@gmail.com
The event is organized by ETS Castle Company, a cultural association in Valsolda active in promoting the historical, landscape, and gastronomic heritage of the area.
