Two hundred euros for two weeks of accommodation (300 for four weeks), a coworking station and community life at the foot of the Gran Paradiso: this is the offer with which three municipalities in the Soana Valley, in Piedmont, are trying to reverse a trend that has lasted for decades, that of mountain depopulation.
A laboratory of new population between Ingria, Ronco Canavese and Valprato Soana
From 20 September to 18 October 2026 the three Piedmontese municipalities will open their doors to professionals, digital nomads and families thanks to the program Vihta – Wild Working in Valle Soanathe first integrated residential and flexible work project in the valley. The name is not accidental, because in Franco-Provençal patois (a Romance language spoken in France and in some parts of Italy, such as the Aosta Valley and Piedmont) the term “Vihta” means “stay”, and it is precisely the invitation that the three Municipalities address to all those people looking for an alternative, even if only temporary, to urban life. The project was born from the Action Plan for the Habitability of the Soana Valley and is organized by Comunità Sassifraga APS, with funding from the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation through the Apice programme. The initiative is intertwined with the entrepreneurial groups born from the incubation process managed by Réseau Entreprendre, under the strategic coordination of Ideazione Srl.
@comunivirtuosi.org
What does the participation fee include?
Candidates can choose between two formulas: two weeks, from 20 September to 4 October or from 4 to 18 October, at a cost of 200 euros (180 for those who are already members of Comunità Sassifraga); or the entire month, from 20 September to 18 October, for 300 euros (280 for members). The fee includes bed space in some homes located between the three municipalities, access to coworking stations (equipped with internet connection), membership in the Sassifraga Community (for those who are not already part of it) and a calendar of activities (walks, convivial dinners, nature workshops) partly included in the fee and partly at a discounted rate. A dedicated formula is provided for families: participation of children up to 10 years of age is free, with the possibility of attending the local school during their stay, a sign that demonstrates how long-term rooting is the primary objective of the project.
How and when to apply
Applications must be sent by 20 July 2026 through the official portal of the territory, where you will find the registration form complete with all the necessary information.
Places are limited, so under equal conditions, the selection will reward those who demonstrate the greatest motivation to integrate into the life of the local community, more than the simple need for a desk with a view of the Alps.
