SEPTEMBER, LET’S CELEBRATE TRADITION!

September is a magical month to visit the Altopiano del Sole, a season bidding farewell to summer and welcoming the arrival of the first signs of autumn.

In this in-depth feature we will talk about mushrooms and transhumance, an agricultural tradition to celebrate nature and the return from summer pastures.

However, let’s begin this article by discovering the gifts of the forest.

JEWELS OF THE ALTOPIANO: MUSHROOMS

The mushroom season has just begun and the Altopiano del Sole is also preparing to welcome the changes in colors and scents, undergrowth and pine trees.

But where does the typical scent of this season come from?
It is the cooling of the forest which provides these unique fragrances, due to an increase in soil moisture. Thanks to this phenomenon, the scents of the forest are amplified and spread, intoxicating the air with the classic smell of moss and undergrowth. These special conditions also ensure the development of fertile soil for the emergence of molds and mushrooms, ready to appear at the peak of the forest’s mushrooming season.

In the six municipalities of the Altopiano it is also necessary to comply with mushroom collection regulations, which also provide daily costs and collection limits.

—> All the information can be found on the website of the Comunità Montana di Vallecamonica at this address CLICK HERE

Furthermore, SAFETY comes first, even when it comes to walking in the woods. Do not underestimate anything, and check the weather conditions before each excursion. Do not go alone and especially do not proceed into dangerous places or too close to escarpments or cliffs. Once you have finished collecting, do not trust your experience and have the collected mushrooms checked by an ATS mycologist. Access to the Mycological Inspectorate by private citizens, for the determination of mushroom species, is COMPLETELY FREE, subject to telephone appointment. Click on the button below to view the INFORMATION BROCHURE.

PASTORAL TRADITIONS: TRANSHUMANCE

As promised, before concluding this in-depth study, we remind you that, every year, September and Altopiano del Sole mean transhumance, an enduring tradition with its charming parade of cows in the town of Borno. The herds departing from the summer pastures cross the village before returning to the cowsheds where they will spend the winter, waiting for the spring period to return to graze the highland grass. The event will take place on Saturday, September 25th and Sunday, September 26th, in accordance with current anti-Covid19 regulations. This event has become an attraction with an important tourist appeal, especially for families, who savor the tradition of ancient mountain agricultural customs every year. In fact, on this occasion it will be possible to buy typical and local products from dedicated stalls.