The hike starts from the village of San Martino Inferiore where the path reaches San Martino Superiore and climbs up along sparse mixed woods and pastures to the 1834 m of Colle Bettone. From here you cross a truly splendid environment: the itinerary cuts through steep slopes that fall into the "Orrido di Elva", an impressive gorge shaped by erosion. You reach the clearing of Colle San Giovanni, where you can admire the round chapel of San Giovanni; the panoramic view over Monti Chersogno (3024 m) and Pelvo (3061 m) is superb. The forest track goes down through the larch wood and reaches the first of the 28 huts belonging to the municipality of Elva. Serre is located in the basin where a visit to the parish church with the cycle of frescoes by the Flemish painter Hans Clemer and to the "Cavié" Museum (ancient trade of hair gatherers and wig makers) is a must.

The Parish Church of Santa Maria di Elva: it preserves a precious cycle of frescoes inside it painted between the 15th and 16th century by the Flemish painter Hans Clemer, also known as "Maestro d'Elva", an artist active at the court of the Marquis of Saluzzo. Scenes from the Life of the Virgin Mary are narrated in sequence on the side walls, while a dramatic Crucifixion stands out on the back wall of the presbytery. The sculptural decoration of the entrance portal, the triumphal arch of green stone and the 14th century baptismal font are to be seen. Museo dei Pels: the Museo dei Pels in Elva is a museum that preserves the memory of a unique craft of hair gathering born in the mountains of Valle Maira. The peculiar activity of the caviè consisted in the collection and selection of hair, an unusual and precious raw material essential to make wigs, and the consequent marketing on foreign markets. The museum therefore tells the stories of the hard work of this travelling trade, the testimonies of the valley people’s ingenuity, the memory of the dignity of a community that was able to identify a valid alternative to the poverty that characterised the valley in past centuries.

Room rental/Restaurant/Inn/Holiday apartments "CODIROSSO" Frazione Ruata Valle, 8 - STROPPO 348-8860680 / 380-5333955 info@codirosso.it - www.codirosso.it LA FREIDIO holiday home Frazione Ruata Valle - STROPPO 392-0545532 lafreidio@gmail.com - www.casavacanzelafreidio.it ALPES D’OC GREEN holiday farm Frazione Morinesio, 73 - STROPPO 348-7469019 morinesio@alpesdoc.com - www.alpesdoc.com Holiday Residence ALPES D’OC MORINESIO Frazione Morinesio - STROPPO 0171-916277 / 011-597602 / 348-7469019 morinesio@alpesdoc.com - www.alpesdoc.com Holiday home CENTRO CULTURALE BORGATA SAN MARTINO Borgata San Martino Inferiore - STROPPO 0171-999186 info@borgata-sanmartino.eu - www.borgata-sanmartino.eu BORGATA SAN MARTINO hiking refuge Borgata San Martino Inferiore 52 - STROPPO 0171-999186 info@borgata-sanmartino.eu - www.borgata-sanmartino.eu  BORGATA CIAMIN holiday farm Borgata Ciamin - STROPPO 331-8751929 / 0171-999198 info@ciamin.it - www.ciamin.it B&B Room rental Residence Holiday home Holiday apartments CASA DEI FIORI Frazione Morinesio, 89 - STROPPO 0171-999303 / 339-6196206 email@casadeifiori.com www.casadeifiori.com Room rental Residence Holiday home Holiday apartments CASA DEL SOLE Frazione Morinesio, 26 - STROPPO 0171-999303 / 339-6196206 / 335-6820158 email@casadelsole-morinesio.com - www.casadelsole-morinesio.com B&B "ROTA D’AMONT" Località Contà - STROPPO 328-5670073 info@rotadamont.com - www.rotadamont.com Osteria LOU SUBRIC Borgata San Martino Superiore 109 STROPPO 320-1196687 lousubric@gmail.com - www.lousubric.it Locanda Occitana "LOCANDA DI ELVA" Piazza Don Dao - ELVA 335-5736255 locandadielva@gmail.com www.progettoelva.it/locanda-san-pancrazio - www.lalocandadielva.it "LE COLONNE RESORT" holiday apartments Borgata Serre – ELVA 335-5736255 info@lecolonneresort.it -www.lecolonneresort.it - www.progettoelva.it/resort-le-colonne/  "L’ARTESIN" holiday farm Borgata Clari, 5 - ELVA 347-7839416 agriturismoartesin@libero.it "LA SOUSTO DAL COL" hiking refuge Colle San Giovanni - ELVA 346 782 4680

Stroppa can be reached with your own means of transport or with the bus departing from Cuneo www.benese.it/orari-bus. There is also a 24-hour taxi service with baggage transport active all year round (Sherpabus) 348 8231477 - sherpabus@libero.it

Itinerary code: POC
Recommended period: May-October
Historical interest: Yes
Access by public transport: Yes
Classification: Medium and low mountain provincial
Provinces crossed: Cuneo