The Town

The village, characterized by stone houses, is perched on the southern slope of the promontory which dominates the valley of the Coppa river.

Its structure are representative of its ancient origins, which can be traced back to Celtic populations, who inhabited the upper part of the promontory, smoothing the top to obtain the stones necessary to create the walls of the castle. In the Middle Ages, the fortress, the manor house and the chapel of the castle were built within the walls and only after 1400 did the houses appear on the southern slope of the promontory, with sandstone buildings and characteristic Gothic vaulted arches.

The access road to the castle area, which connects the Borgo with the perennial fountain located at the base of the south side slope, gradually developed the town, with its stone houses, farmyards open towards the road, the cobbled paths and today largely paved in porphyry that lead around the Rocca, along the path of the ancient walls.

The castle area preserves the house of the feudal lords, today the town hall, reinstated in the 70s to its present form, the ruins of the defense and lookout fortress, a fortress that collapsed at the beginning of the last century, the parish church which was built in the 1600s in its current configuration, together with the beautiful bell tower. The church preserves the previous structures of the castle chapel, dated 1300, in the apse and sacristy. The parish church has a fresco from 1640 on the main entrance door, depicting the Annunciation and inside, divided into three naves, preserves relics of the patron saint San Ponzo, placed in a prestigious altar, with a triptych in wooden altarpieces depicting the saint, the Madonna with Child and San Rocco. The altars in the side aisles are decorated with paintings representing the mystical marriage of Santa Rita, San Carlo, Sant'Antonio as well as the altar with a valuable wooden statue of the Madonna del Rosario with Child.

On the external wall of the bell tower there is a chapel, the construction of which dates back to 1600, on the occasion of the overcoming of the plague and which today is dedicated to the fallen of the municipality in the two great wars. The current configuration of the chapel, with the fresco of the crucifixion, was created in the 1950s.

From the area of ​​the castle, the view extends over the nearby hills, covered by chestnut woods, now included in the local park of supra-municipal interest, it heads towards the castle of Stefanago, which was once part of the feud of Fortunago and can be reached by a gentle path of ridge. Further away you can see the castle of Montalto, which acts as the backdrop to the Coppa valley.

In addition to immersing us in an intact and pleasant environment, the Borgo offers us leisure, culture and quality food and wine products. Families with children will find a ride in the playgrounds interesting, starting from the park in the Auditorium area, which has just been inaugurated, to the outdoor sports area of ​​the Municipal Sports Center, with quality sports equipment accessible to all, to the playground area in the town hall square , where you can run from the slide to the swing, enjoying the setting sun to the last ray. Do not miss a visit to the forest park of the municipal villa, to be able to recognize the arboreal essences of our territory. There are also numerous marked trails at different levels of development and difficulty, suitable for spending a few hours in the countryside.

The hospitality of restaurants, B&B, farmhouses where to stay and where to taste our specialties, DOC wines, salami that falls under the denomination "Salame di Varzi" and goat cheeses assumes a separate importance. For those wishing to have a snack in the open air, there are numerous rest points organized with tables and benches near the fountains, where you can have a snack in the shade of the thick foliage of the trees.

Of interest is also the cultural offer of the Borgo, which with the construction of the municipal Auditorium, capable of 600 seats and a room suitable for the realization of art exhibitions, has started, also making use of the Fortunagoinarte Association, active for over 20 years in the area, in high-level artistic initiatives. There are also numerous scheduled events ranging from light to classical music, from prose to cabaret, without forgetting about conferences and meetings of great interest.

Overall, the town has maintained its medieval urban layout and the progressive recovery of the buildings in the historic center, starting from the Town Hall, the restoration of the churches, the harmony of the materials used, the created environment, have led to the recognition of Fortunago among the "Most beautiful towns in Italy”.