Pavese places in Santo Stefano Belbo
Santo Stefano Belbo is where the last novel by Cesare Pavese – The Moon And The Bonfires, published in 1950 – takes place. While visiting Pavese places, one can recollect the events of the novel, along with the writer’s biography. The house where he was born, the Church of Saints James and Cristopher where he got baptized, the Moncucco hill, the carpenter’s shop of his great friend Pinolo Scaglione, the Mora farm, Villa Nido, the Gaminella lodge and, finally, his grave in the cemetery of Santo Stefano Belbo.
Waiting to visit these places in person, watch our series Io vengo di là on our YouTube channel.
And if you love hiking, do not miss our MOM – Multimedia Outdoor Museum, launched during the Pavese Festival 2021. An actual open-air museum of our land, designed along five themed itineraries to explore the places, the characters and the myths of Pavese’s universe, overlaying real routes to virtual ones. A new way to experience and interpret the hills surrounding Santo Stefano Belbo and the nature and culture of UNESCO’s heritage sites of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato.
The Belbo stream
The Belbo stream divides the two hills of Gaminella and Salto, which are the backdrop for the novel “The Moon And The Bonfires”: take a walk along its banks.
The station
The little station of Santo Stefano Belbo, no longer in use, was a gateway to the world for those who lived here in the time of “The Moon And The Bonfires”.
The Salto hill
Opposite to Gaminella, the Salto hill runs along the road to Canelli. At its foot you can visit the house of Nuto, protagonist of “The Moon And The Bonfires”.
Nuto’s house
Visit the workshop-house of Nuto, protagonist of the novel “The Moon And The Bonfires” and of the poem “Paper Smokers”.
Santo Stefano Belbo
Santo Stefano Belbo is Cesare Pavese’s hometown: here he set his last novel “The Moon and the Bonfires”.
The Gaminella lodge
Gaminella is the most impressive hill in Santo Stefano Belbo: discover its landscape, with its aura of mystery.
The church
From the staircase of Santo Stefano Belbo’s parish church Anguilla witnessed a fervent speech of the priest against partisans and communists.
The Mora farm
The Mora farm still exists today: find out more on the large farmhouse where the protagonist of “The Moon And The Bonfires”, Anguilla, worked.
The cemetery
On 7 September 2002 the remains of Cesare Pavese were transferred to the cemetery of Santo Stefano Belbo, with the consent of his family (the
The Hotel of the Angel
The Hotel of the Angel overlooks Santo Stefano Belbo’s main square: the character of Anguilla stays there once back to town.
Villa Nido
Villa Nido, whose unusual architecture remains untouched, continues to hold the charm described in the novel “The Moon And The Bonfires”.
Pavese’s birthplace
In Santo Stefano Belbo you can visit Cesare Pavese’s birthplace, where his parents used to spend their summer holidays.
