Santo Stefano Belbo is Cesare Pavese’s hometown: he was born here on 9 September 1908. 

“My town consists of a few shacks and a great mire, but the main road where I played as a child cuts through it. Since – I repeat – I’m ambitious, I wanted to travel the world and, once reached the farthest sites, turn around and say in front of everyone: Haven’t you ever heard of those shacks? Well, I come from there”. (The Langa, from August Holiday)

At the border between the provinces of Cuneo and Asti, the village runs along the Belbo river, hence its name. Here Pavese set his last novel The Moon and the Bonfires, published in 1950.