Valloria

The name Valloria comes from "Vallis Aurea", which can be translated into “Valley of the wind“ as well as “Valley of Gold“; the olives being the gold. Either way the name leads one to believe there is something precious that is being salvaged by the 42 residents. This precious thing, whatever it may be, led a group of natives to band together to try and find out what and where it might be. And so, in 1991 under the name "Le Tre Fontane", the community of friends of Valloria came to be. Thanks to their initiative the town is now a central figure in a whole row of artistic and cultural events, which have in the meantime become fixtures in thousands of Italian and foreign calendars.



No one knows exactly who had the idea to let the doors be at the disposal of the artist, but nonetheless Valloria is a extraordinary open air museum for fascinating paintings. Every year a group of artists is invited to the town and are given complete artistic freedom to do whatever they please to a few doors. This event is normally held during the first weekend of July. And so Valloria has found itself a home in the small circle of artistic towns in Italy who have joined Association of Painted Towns, also known as the “Paesi dipinti” (“Assipad”) of Varese, founded in 1996.



The key to the enthusiasm that Valloria conjures lies within the hospitality of its residents which most notably comes out during the two major, and legendary, town events during the first weekends of July and August. The motto of these events is “A Valloria fai baldoria", which means nothing more than that there is a large party going on. Both events showcase not only the artistic side of painting, but the filling side of Ligurian gastronomy. After everyone is full from all the wonderful food, it is off to dance in the olive groves amidst the trees where invariably new friendships are made and everyone decides they are definitely coming back soon…or at least next year.