Vrù Village: the Mechanical Nativity Scene, Wooden Sculptures, and Swing

Site overview

The hamlet of Vrù is a small village at 1,030 m above sea level on the northern slopes of the Grande Valley, accessible by the winding road that climbs from the village of Cantoira.

The village’s origins go back to the earliest rural settlements in the Lanzo Valleys, constructed on mid-slope locations to enjoy better sunlight and avoid frequent floods from the valley floor. Today, it has preserved its original design: a dense group of houses interwoven with a network of narrow streets called chintanes.

The buildings are constructed from local materials, primarily stone, from the lane paving to the houses, all sheltered under sturdy losa stone roofs. Throughout the village, several fountains known as bournhèl are located at key points, along with pose: stone structures designed for passers-by to rest and set down their loads.

The village features several notable sites: the Chapel of the Madonna della Neve, containing many ex-voto paintings; the old school, preserved with its original furnishings; and a small but impressive mechanical nativity scene, created by Francesco Berta. Outside the village, Berta also crafted stone replicas of Turin’s Mole Antonelliana and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, showcasing his extraordinary ingenuity.

Strolling through the village streets, absorbing the silence and scents, you start to feel the countless stories these lanes could share: tales of resilient and brave mountain folk who created a rich moral and material legacy that endures today, making Vrù a place dear to the heart, worth cherishing and safeguarding.