The Mount Vandalino

Hi guys!
Today I want to tell you something about one of the most characteristic and famous mountains of Waldensian Valleys, that overlooks the lower Pellice Valley: I’m talking about the Mount Vandalino. It is visible from the whole plain of the Pellice river, and it is said that on its slopes many mysterious events had happened…

Il monte Vandalino, alto 2140 metri (qui visto dalla Coustera di Luserna San Giovanni). — Mount Vandalino, 2,140 meters high (as can be seen from the Coustera of Luserna San Giovanni)

You have to know that once upon a time on the Mount Vandalino dense woods (much more than now) used to grow, and it was very easy, for shepherds, to lose their flocks: fortunately some fairies living in a nearby cave used to manufacture bells for all the shepherds! The farmer who owned the land (which the fairies’ cave stood on) was very lucky, but he was also subject to the envy of other vilagers, who treated him really badly. One day the man said that it would have been even better if fairies had never been there!

The name of the mountain originates from the word "wandalus", ie: belonging to the Germanic tribe of the Vandals, who are supposed to have passed and settled on these lands in Roman times — The name of the mountain originates from the word “wandalus”, ie: belonging to the Germanic tribe of the Vandals, who are supposed to have passed and settled on these lands in Roman times

Unfortunately the fairies heard him, and suddenly decided to go away from everyone, and moved right on top of the mountain! Before leaving they closed the entrance to their cave, covered its walls with gold and filled five jars with the precious metal; immediately after they caused a hailstorm that ruined forever the beautiful meadows where they used to live before, leaving only barren and rocky lands. Through a crack in the rocks, at night, the shining gold could be seen, but the opening was too small for anyone to go through it and enter the cave…

The “Castelluzzo” (or “Castelus”) is the typical protuberance sticking out from the mountain and could mean "sharp castle". If you are thinking of going there to look for the cave with his treasure… well… I warn you right now to give it up… — The “Castelluzzo” (or “Castelus”) is the typical protuberance sticking out from the mountain and could mean “sharp castle”. If you are thinking of going there to look for the cave with his treasure… well… I warn you right now to give it up…

Fairies, however, imagining the shepherd’s despair, gave him a magic wand that let him enter the cave to take the jars: one night he went there secretly and took away all of them, and then moved to a place long far away. It is said that, in the dark, one of the vases fell to the ground and broke, but the magic wand picked up the whole gold… according to the legend, if you find yourself in front of the opening of the cave you can still see on the ground some pieces of that amphora. As far as it concerns fairies, no one knows if they still live on Mount Vandalino… When you arrive in front of one of its great and mysterious caves you can try to jump and, if you hear the sound of bells jingling, perhaps it means that fairies are still there!

The mount as can be seen from Rocchamaneoud (Angrogna)

Do you want to read the tale in Italian ?