A few weeks ago, I heard about this unique place, the alabaster quarries in Busca, and over time, my curiosity grew immensely. Taking advantage of the holiday break, I finally brought the adventure to life! Once again, everything was carried out using the Weekly Single-Training Technique: http://www.bertinettobartolomeodavide.it/ultratrail/index.html.
I'm not sure why, but Busca seems to be a recurring place in my life—and now I'm here to share this incredible walking adventure.
I set off leisurely on the morning of December 30, 2024—I was on the road outside my house by 9:30, so not particularly early. However, this was exactly what I had planned, considering the nightly frosts that are common in the Envie area. The temperature was likely a few degrees below zero, but the sun was beginning to rise, promising to warm up the day soon.
I reached Saluzzo shortly before 11:00, though the stretch near the Po bridge after Revello always adds quite a few kilometers to my journey, as I have to follow the river for a long distance before reconnecting with the road. This results in a significant loss of kilometers—at that point, I might have already entered the municipality of Saluzzo, but that’s just the way things are.
In any case, I realized too late that the Po was dry, meaning I could have waded across—but by then, the decision was already made!
I passed through Saluzzo fairly quickly and stopped by my school for a quick selfie in front of the gym entrance, where I teach my students. It's always great to reconnect with work—especially since it's something I genuinely love.
Perhaps I've been fortunate in life, as I’ve always pursued activities that fully fulfill me. For me, it's more than just a profession—it's a true calling.
Returning to the journey, I can say that I took the bike path to pass through Saluzzo, Manta, and Verzuolo. Then, I followed the road toward Piasco. The Piasco stretch felt endless, not due to fatigue, but purely because of its long distance—I hadn’t remembered that crossing it on foot would take so much time!
Upon reaching the roundabout, I headed toward Rossana, taking the road that passes in front of the Bitron company. For several kilometers, there were houses on one side and hills to my left, as I ascended into Valle Varaita.
Keeping an eye out, I searched for a bar before tackling the climb toward Busca, and fortunately, one appeared. A quick coffee break, though I chose to sit at the table rather than stand, and then I shouldered my backpack once more, continuing along the sidewalk and later back onto the roadside, finally reaching the entrance of the anticipated climb.
A gentle climb for a few kilometers, with many cyclists crossing my path—it was understandable, given the beautiful weather. In fact, the temperature had risen enough that I had already removed my gloves and headband back in Verzuolo—even rolling up my sleeves to the elbows!
At the top of the colletta, I got 'lost' via Eremo, completely absorbed in the scenery, to the point that I stopped paying attention to the GPS directions on my Fenix. As a result, I descended for several kilometers before realizing my mistake!
In fact, my watch kept sounding alerts, but my thoughts at the time drowned out every warning
I turned back and climbed up toward Via Eremo, following the GPS directions onto the dirt path through the woods. I ventured along a desolate trail through the thicket for about 500 meters, and then—there it was, the first quarry!
It was stunning, but I chose not to enter, wanting instead to enjoy the warmth of the sun for a 10-minute snack break. At 14:41, I gazed into the winding cavity, stripped of alabaster, no more than 1.5 meters wide, with walls rising steeply—I only peeked inside, but I estimate it reached perhaps 30 meters deep.
I couldn’t help but think about the hazards of that area—if anything had disturbed the ground above, it could have sent rocks tumbling down. At the same time, I reflected on the element of discovery—had I not found the quarry immediately, I might have approached it from above and stumbled into that dangerous crevice in the terrain!
If anyone decides to visit, they should exercise maximum caution!
I’m not quite sure about the current state of the area, as it appears abandoned, with vegetation slowly overtaking the site. It’s unclear whether these quarries are privately owned or municipal, since I didn’t find any signs or access restrictions from the direction I entered. However, I believe it would be wise to mark and regulate access, allowing entry only under the guidance of a professional.
There are several veins, though I only came across the first one I found—especially since it’s advisable to wear a helmet in that area, so I chose to hold back.
I think about how many artists must have been inspired by these now-barren yet fascinating quarries, once filled with precious alabaster that shaped remarkable works of art in various churches—even in faraway places. Perhaps the most famous example is the Basilica of Superga.
Today, we witness a vanished wealth, yet it leaves behind a breathtaking landscape reminiscent of the Grand Canyon. I once read somewhere that Busca alabaster was so highly valued in the past that its patterns were replicated on wooden panels, making it affordable for a wider audience.
I met other visitors in that area while descending, so I took the opportunity to gather some information about the best route toward Busca. With that, I was ready to head down and complete the adventure, reaching the town center at 15:29.
A moderate walking route, considering it was 'only' 38 km, covered in 5 hours and 57 minutes, with a very light elevation gain, except for the Rossana colletta section.
Update (17-01-2025): I later discovered that there’s a great online description, complete with GPS track and hiking details, which I’m sharing here: http://www.museoappunti.it/il-museo/appunti-di-geologia/alabastro-di-busca.
ALMOST FORGOT—HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!
P.S. If you get the chance, check out my website: www.bertinettobartolomeodavide.it or visit my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Bertinetto.BartolomeoDavide76.
Prof. Bertinetto Bartolomeo Davide
Osteopath D.O. - Iridologist - Sports Trainer at Any Level
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