Stone Sentinels: Memory and Future of Cuneo's Alpine Fortifications

Among the mountains of the Cuneo valleys stand imposing fortifications that for centuries have watched over the Alpine borders and communities. These "stone sentinels" are not just military relics, but a living part of the region's identity. 

The conference, which is designed as a multi-year project, stems from the desire of the FAI Cuneo delegation, in collaboration with the Artea Foundation, to recount and enhance these structures, transforming historical memory into a shared heritage. The investigation, in this first phase, explores the defensive evolution between the eighteenth-century Reformation and the nineteenth-century Albertine era in the strongholds of Demonte, Vinadio, and Limone Piemonte, strategic hubs along the Maddalena, Lombarda, and Tenda hills. Here, military architecture adapted to the changing face of warfare and the power of artillery.

A special space is dedicated to the rebirth of the Vinadio Fort: acquired by the Municipality in 2016, the complex is being transformed from a symbol of defense into a place of culture and inclusion, where the walls are once again a space for participation for the entire community. Speakers include Daniele De Angelis, architect and enthusiast of 19th- and 20th-century military architecture; Massimo Robotti, scholar of 19th-century military history; Anna Bertola, director of the Heritage Department of the Municipality of Cuneo, formerly Head of the Technical Office of the Municipality of Vinadio; Davide De Luca, director of the Artea Foundation; and Loris Emanuel, president of the Valle Stura Mountain Union.

Introduced and moderated by Roberto Audisio, head of the Cuneo FAI delegation.

To complete the promotion proposal, the FAI Cuneo Delegation, in collaboration with the Artea Foundation, is offering an unmissable event on Sunday, May 17, to discover these stone giants up close : Voices of Stone: Memories and Graffiti at the Vinadio Fort . Accompanied by FAI storytellers, visitors will discover an intimate and previously undisclosed side of the Vinadio Fort: the signs and graffiti left on the walls by the soldiers who served there, in a completely new way. A tale of expectations, hopes, and daily life forever engraved in stone.

Guided tours will depart from the entrance to the Caserma Carlo Alberto (Via Guardia alla Frontiera 2)
at the following times: 10:00, 11:00, 14:30, 15:30, and 16:30. A suggested contribution of €8 (€5 for FAI members) is required for the tour, which supports FAI's mission of promoting and protecting Italy's artistic and natural heritage.

Information and reservations are available at: faiprenotazioni.fondoambiente.it.