Forgnengo is a hamlet of Campiglia Cervo. Until 1970, the technical school at Campiglia Cervo trained construction engineers.
Located north of the Vercelli plain and 90 minutes by car from Milan (Malpensa) airport, the Cervo valley falls within an area of pre-alpine hills and mountains. The Cervo river feeds hydro-resources that once served the regions’ textile industry and runs into the Vercelli plain - the ‘pianura vercellese’ - which gifts Piedmont its leading rice crop to this day.
The nearest provincial city is Biella, which city once hosted the scientist Amadeo Avogadro. This University town retains strong industrial and historical links to the textile industry. The sports and fashion houses of Cerruti, Fila and Ermenegildo Zegna (in Trivero) were first established in the Biellese region.
Local attractions and things to do
Forgnengo is on the mountain-bike route to Valsessera and Valsessera Valley. The area offers the summer visitor many healthy opportunities including farm holidays, fishing in the Cervo, riding, rock climbing, cycling and many beautiful woodland and mountain walks.
• breathtaking views overlooking the beautifully wooded Cervo Valley and the Alps.
• the Oasi Zegna, a natural park, crossed by a scenic motor route, Panoramica Zegna:
• 100km long motor-trail running through mountainous pre-alpine hills connects the sanctuaries of Graglia and Oropa in the east to Trivero in the west
• Forgnengo is only 10 to 15mins by car from Bielmonte, (altitude 1500m) a local ski resort known locally as ‘a balcony over the world’ because of the breathtaking views.
• for the more adventurous, Aosta and the Gressoney valley is ~90 minutes by car.
The local sanctuaries of Graglia, Oropa and San Giovanni d’Andorno, were once described by the late nineteenth century European traveler, literary classicist and graphic artist Samuel Butler, in his 1881 work entitled “Alps and Sanctuaries.” Even today, such sanctuaries still provide their local communities with a place to recover, whilst retaining a cultural focus for those who enjoy the unspoilt alpine scenery or are simply looking for things to do.
• The sanctuary of Oropa and the cable car to mount Mucrone, with its hotel and mount Camino. From Camino mountain, the adventurous explorer may walk into the Aosta region.
• Valleys of vineyards and lake Viverone; lakes Sirio and Bertignano, besides the nearby lakes of Orta and Maggiore.
• Close to the Aosta Valley (circa 80 minutes drive) with spectacular mountain ranges which include Mont Blanc, Matterhorn, Mount Rosa, also the Gran Paradiso National and the Champorcher Regional Parks
