Niel and Gruba (Italy)

Alpine Villages of Niel (behind) and Gruba

Alpine Village of Niel 1540 m

Village of Niel 1540 m. Cableway for the transport of food to the isolated houses near the alpine pastures

Village of Niel 1540 m. Wood is one of the main building materials for alpine houses

Village of Niel 1540 m. Wood stock to turn on the stove

Village of Niel 1540 m. The church

Village of Gruba (1550 m)

Village of Gruba (1550 m). Alpine architecture

Village of Gruba (1550 m). Alpine architecture

Village of Gruba (1550 m). Alpine architecture

Village of Gruba (1550 m). Typical alpine architecture of the village houses

Village of Gruba (1550 m). An old sledge of wood

Village of Gruba (1550 m)

Village of Gruba (1550 m). Flags of Nepalese prayers outside La Gruba Alpine Refuge

A glass of wine before dinner at La Gruba shelter

Dining room and dinner at La Gruba refuge

Gruba refuge. Carpaccio with nuts and salad accompanied by local wine

Gruba refuge. One of the typical dishes is the cut of cooked beef on the grill

Gruba refuge. The wood is the main element of the alpine furnishings

Breakfast with typical products such as cheeses, salami, honey and jams

The trails that leave the village of Gruba

The trails that leave the village of Gruba

Ancient trails perfectly preserved lead to the Mologna Pass

Along the footpaths you will find many alpine houses some well-preserved and inhabited by shepherds

Along the paths, numerous wooden bridges exceed small creeks

A fountain along the path, very useful to the hikers

Along the footpaths you will find many alpine houses some well-preserved and inhabited by shepherds

More you climb up, more the mountain is abandoned

Rhododendrons in bloom

Rhododendrons in bloom

On the trails of transhumance a sheep rest in the shade of a rock

Over 2000 m there are only rocks and flower meadows

Over 2000 m there are only rocks and flower meadows

Great Mologna Pass (2390 m)

The valley that from the villages of Niel and Gruba goes up to the Great Mologna Pass

The trails have clear informations on the direction, distance and time needed to reach the goal

Towards the valley the paths are perfectly preserved

Towards the valley the paths are perfectly preserved

It is not uncommon in the summer to meet the shepherds who lead the flocks to the pasture

It is not uncommon in the summer to meet the shepherds who lead the flocks to the pasture

It is not uncommon in the summer to meet the shepherds who lead the flocks to the pasture

It is not uncommon in the summer to meet the shepherds who lead the flocks to the pasture

It is not uncommon in the summer to meet the shepherds who lead the flocks to the pasture

The alpine villages of Niel and Gruba

Where are the villages of Niel and Gruba

By: Carlo Piccinelli

Niel and Gruba on Google Maps.
Located at 1540 meters of altitude above the town of Gaby in the Lys river valley, Niel and Gruba are two small alpine villages accessible by a road constructed only in 1970. Stone and wood are the materials used for the construction of typical alpine houses inhabited, up to a few decades ago, by numerous families of farmers and breeders. Then in the 1980's, the village began to live only during the summer months. Today, the two villages have seen a revival thanks to the numerous trails that date back to the valley of the Niel river. From Niel and Gruba, in the summer months, thousands of cattle, mostly sheep, pass migrating from one valley to another, offering images of a past that seemed far away. Close to Rosa Mountains, the two small alpine villages of Niel and Gruba are a destination for trekking enthusiasts and mountain walks. La Gruba Refuge is a checkpoint of the famous Alpine race for extreme mountain runners, the Tour Trail of Valle Aosta Region. A challenging race that touches all the most important mountains of the region.
Links for more informations:
Gruba Refuge: www.lagruba.com
Tour Trail Race: www.tourtrailvda.com