The Bessa's Park

Hundreds of large erratic boulders with rock carvings retain archaeological evidence of attendance from V/IV century before Christ, era in which the area was considered to be controlled by Salassi, a Celtic or Celso-Ligurian population. But it was in the II and I century before Christ that in the Bessa's Park have taken places the major works of landscape transformation. When, then, the Romans made it one of the world's largest open-air mines.
Over two thousand years ago, local populations, the Ictimuli - or Vittimuli -, subjugated by the legionaries of Appio Claudio, carried out intense gold mining activities, probably piling thousands of rocks stolen during excavations in the heaps that we see today.

By the end of the first century, mines, presumably depleted, were abandoned to nature, which, overpoweringly, reappeared in the time of large bands of land and is now luxuriant and rich in typical and often exclusive flora and fauna. The natural value of the Reserve is therefore one of its strengths.

The ancient quest for gold at Bessa is not finished with the Romans. In the village of Vermogno, in the municipality of Zubiena, there is the village of gold seekers called Victimula, where the World Gold Championships were held several times. The last edition was held in August 2013.
Along with Vermogno there is the Ecomuseum of the Gold and Bessa, which organizes excursions to the Reserve and practical pursuits of gold research along the river Elvo.

Little roads and bicycle paths cross the reserve which also has two picnic areas, one at Vermogno and the other at Magnano-San Sudario along the provincial road Cerrione-Zubiena.
More information about itineraries and history is available on the Bessa Park website.