Geodiversity and music for ‘Il Bosco delle Rocce’

The opening ceremony for the new venue of the multimedia installation ‘Il Bosco delle Rocce’ took place on Saturday in the gardens of Villa Caccia inRomagnano Sesia(thanks to the hospitality ofthe MEV – Historical and Ethnographic Museum of Lower Valsesia).

An event which provided an opportunity to celebrate, as part of European Geoparks Week, the geodiversity that characterises ourSesia Val Grande Geopark.

This exhibition, which was conceived in October 2022 and createdby the University of Turinin a fresh and engaging way, has now found its home within the Geopark it represents. The installation should be interpreted as more than just a display of rocks, ice and soils of varying composition; the materials on display serve as tangible evidence of the long processes that have shaped them and which continue to transform the Geopark’s landscape to this day.

Present at the inauguration, and at the Association’s previous general meeting alongside the mayors of Valsesia, representatives ofthe Sesia Val Grande Geopark, comprising its three constituent bodies:the Val Grande National Park, the Management Body for the Protected Areas of Valsesia and Val Strona, and theSupervulcano Valsesia – Sesia Val Grande Geopark Association.

The impact of the moment was made possible by the musical performance ofthe Real Vocal Choirof Turin, featuring pieces from various traditions and cultures drawn from geoparks around the world, and to the contribution of Marco Giardino, a geologist and professor at the University of Turin, who provided geological explanations to aid a deeper understanding of the themes conveyed by the installation.

The day drew to a close with a wine and geology tour of the Boca vineyards, near the Sanctuary, followed by a tasting of local specialities.