Database 
Map 
The Geopark
Sesia Val Grande Geopark
The Sesia Val Grande Geopark is situated in north-western Piedmont, in an area stretching from east to west from Lake Maggiore to the Swiss border, as far as Monte Rosa on the border with the Aosta Valley, and from south to north from the hills of Upper Piedmont to the Vigezzo Valley. Here, the scientific significance of the geological features blends with the influence that the geological environment has always had, and continues to have, on human culture.
The geological importance of this area is linked to the processes that formed the Alps, which deformed the Earth’s crust to such an extent that its deepest parts were brought to the surface: here lies one of the most spectacular sections of the Earth’s crust, within which it is even possible to observe the feeding system of a fossil supervolcano, from the uppermost rocks of the caldera down to a depth of 25 km, and the contact between the Earth’s crust and the underlying mantle, the Moho.
“Where stone becomes culture”
The motto of the Sesia Val Grande Geopark is ‘Where stone becomes culture’. Indeed, here all the characteristics of the area are deeply linked to its geology: the extraordinary presence of different types of rock, the diversity of the landscape’s forms, and its wide range of altitudes give rise to many different ecological conditions, which in turn result in a vast number of environments, each distinct from the other, supporting a great variety of living organisms.
This extraordinary environmental diversity has inevitably influenced human life as well:the development of culture and traditions is closely linked to the territory, from the Palaeolithic era right up to the present day, including the Walser people, who provide an extraordinary example of the close connection between humans and the environment.
What is a Geopark?
A UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) Global Geopark is an area with a geological heritage of recognised significance, where a sustainable development strategy is in place.
It must contain a number of geological sites of particular importance (geosites) due to their scientific quality, rarity, aesthetic significance or educational value: most of these must be of geological interest, but they may also be of archaeological, naturalistic, historical or cultural value.
Geoparks thus enable visitors to gain a greater awareness of the close connection between humankind and the geological features of the area.
Geonet Project
GeoNet faces a number of challenges, but the main one is to create a cross-border geotourism district by linking together the countless sites of geological and mining interest spread across Valsesia, Verbano, Ossola, the Brig-Simplon area and the Binntal.
The networking of the natural, geological and cultural sites in an area stretching from Monte Rosa to Punta d’Arbola – which includes three Sacred Mountains, a Geopark and a UNESCO biosphere reserve, a national park, two regional parks and two of Piedmont’s most important tourist districts, is essential for kick-starting a process of socio-economic growth across the cooperation area.
Promoting geotourism will lead to an increase in visitor numbers in the rural areas involved, and young residents will become the future guardians of the environment and the foremost promoters of the natural beauty of the area in which they live.
The Geosites
Geosites represent the geodiversity of a territory, understood as the range of geological characteristics (including structural, mineralogical, petrographic, palaeontological, geomorphological, hydrogeological, pedological, sedimentological and georesource aspects) characteristic of a given area. They are recognised on the basis of their scientific value, educational content and significance as geotourism destinations.
They are classified according to their level of importance at international, national, regional or local level. They may also be associated with additional aesthetic, historical/archaeological and sporting attractions. A total of 68 geosites have been identified within the Geopark’s territory. Initiatives focusing on these sites aim at geoconservation, economic development, sustainable management and responsible use.
Governance
of the Geopark
Val Grande National Park
In 2012, through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, the Val Grande National Park and the Sesia Val Grande Geopark Association undertook to share not only the principles of conserving the geological heritage of the areas concerned – as promoted worldwide by the Geoparks Network – but also policies for the protection, enhancement and economic development of the geological heritage within the territory, as well as measures aimed at safeguarding and promoting tangible and intangible heritage directly and indirectly linked to the geological characteristics of homogeneous territorial areas.
Sesia Val Grande Geopark Association
The Association, founded in 2011 under the name Associazione Geoturistica Supervulcano Valsesia, promotes geological awareness of the Geopark’s territory through educational activities for schools and training organisations, as well as geological tourism and public outreach events for all age groups. It also collaborates with the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Turin on research and training activities relating to the geological heritage and its dissemination to the general public.
Valsesia Protected Areas Management Authority
Since 2016, the Valsesia Protected Areas Management Authority has been part of the administrative and management structure of the Sesia Val Grande Geopark. Together with the Official Guides, it organises environmental education activities for nursery, primary, lower secondary and upper secondary schools at some of the Geopark’s main geosites within its territory, as well as guided excursions along the geotourism routes.
