Mountain Resistance: A national conference on the ecological crisis and place awareness
Returning to the mountains is possible: but how, and to whose benefit? This question is the starting point for "Mountain Resistance: Between Ecological Crisis and Consciousness of Place," the national conference being promoted by the Nuto Revelli ETS Foundation on Friday, October 16th and Saturday, October 17th between Cuneo and the Borgata Paraloup (Rittana, Cuneo). The conference is being held in collaboration with the Society of Territorialists, Uncem Piemonte, and the Unione Montana Valle Stura, with the patronage of the Municipality of Cuneo. It has been nominated for the Ministry of Culture's 2026 call for proposals for Conferences of National Interest.
Empty of control by ungoverned industrialization and now exposed to the ravages of global warming, the highlands are experiencing a new prominence, which brings with it the risk of speculative exploitation. The conference opposes this with the idea of a social use of the mountains: forms of permanent and temporary repopulation, services for the elderly and vulnerable and for younger generations, and communities alternative to urban ones. The discussion will focus on the new Mountain Law, food communities, ecomemory, and the vocations of the territories.
It begins on Friday the 16th at 6:30 pm in Cuneo, as part of the 27th National Chestnut Fair, in the spaces of the new ESSECI library center, with Andrea Membretti and his book Diventare montanari (People, 2025). The author will be in conversation with Alberto Ziparo (Society of Territorialists), Giulia Jannelli (Germinale Community Agricultural Cooperative), and Sandro Bozzolo, author of La Custode: a filmic map of the chestnut groves. The event will be hosted by Beatrice Verri, director of the Foundation, following a welcome from Councilor Sara Tomatis.
Saturday the 17th | From 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, work moves to the Borgata Paraloup, in Rittana. Nearly two hundred young partisans gathered here in 1943, including the first members of the Free Italy of Justice and Freedom. Revitalized by the Foundation, the hamlet is now a laboratory for change, bringing the Resistance to the present day.
After greetings from Flavia Piccoli Nardelli (AICI), Giacomo Doglio (mayor of Rittana), Roberto Colombero (Uncem Piemonte), and Loris Emanuel (Unione Montana Valle Stura), Marco Revelli and Antonella Tarpino led the first session. Luca Mercalli, Ottavio Marzocca, Alberto Ziparo, Roberto Colombero, Gianmarco Cantafio, and Tarpino herself spoke on the Paraloup case.
At 2:30 pm, the second session, led by Maurizio and Giuseppe Dematteis, will feature Miriam Rubeis, Marco Giovagnoli, Anna Marson, Sergio De La Pierre, and the Foresta Collective (Dario Castellino, Valeria Cottino, Alice Lusso). The topics will include ecomuseums, the Apennines, rural artifacts, new settlements, and local wooden architecture.
The presentations will be published in a dedicated playlist on the Foundation's YouTube channel, followed by the publication of the proceedings.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The meetings are free to attend, with reservations recommended via Eventbrite, subject to availability.
For Saturday, October 17th: those who wish can book lunch at the Borgata Paraloup restaurant: 349.6397386
There are limited parking spaces on the Chiot Rosa plateau; please help organize shared car rides. You can leave your car here and walk to Paraloup, about 40 minutes on an almost entirely paved road.
Those who have difficulty walking up can drive to the Belvedere di Paraloup car park – there are about ten spaces available – and reach Paraloup in 5 minutes, on a gently uphill dirt road.
