Lou Pitavin, where a dream became reality

From Family Home to the First ClimaHotel in Northwestern Italy:

Marco and Valeria took big risks—and won them all. Especially the one about living happily.

When you’re young, nothing feels impossible.
That’s how, 25 years ago, with the fearless energy of their twenties, Marco and Valeria decided to transform Marco’s family home into a small inn. Just five rooms and a restaurant with about forty seats.

The house was perfect, located in the lower part of the Finello hamlet in Marmora, a place once known as Lou Pitavin—the local name for a small woodpecker. Lou Pitavin is also Marco’s family nickname, or “stranome”, as they say in Valle Maira: a determined little bird that builds its home with love.

And so did Marco and Valeria—two young dreamers, armed with a vision and an unwavering desire to live in the mountains.

But not just any mountains. They were searching for a special place, far from ski resorts, tourist crowds, and glitzy events. A destination for slow tourism—explored on foot or by bicycle. In that sense, Valle Maira was simply perfect.

A few years after opening the inn, they realized the five rooms were no longer enough. In 2012, they launched a new renovation project, entirely based on eco-friendly construction methods. At the time, it was a pioneering idea—one that led them to become the first ClimaHotel in Northwestern Italy.
This certification ensures the use of primarily regional materials, excellent soundproofing, efficient environmental management, and the lowest possible ecological footprint from the building process. In short, it guarantees a place that is pleasant to live, work, and stay in.

In line with this vision, they also created an outdoor wellness area: a Kneipp path ending in two heated aromatic hot tubs and a cold river-water tub—for the boldest among us. A revitalizing experience in deep connection with nature.

Today, the inn offers 10 rooms, plus two additional “refuge-style” rooms designed for hiking groups.

Valeria is the heart of the kitchen, which has grown increasingly plant-based over the years. Her recipes spotlight vegetables and edible flowers from the garden—a garden unlike any other. Designed as a circular space that channels energy, it’s also home to the Flower Garden, Valeria’s personal realm.
She carefully selects which flowers to grow, ensuring a supply of colorful ingredients for her dishes and perfect blooms to dry and use in handcrafted wreaths and decorations for the inn. This artistry, refined over time, is now the focus of workshops and creative classes.

Their love for Valle Maira—and their awareness that tourism should be just one element in the life of these highlands—led Marco and Valeria to work almost exclusively with local producers, reaching only as far as the lower valley. In doing so, they’ve helped create a virtuous supply chain, one that supports sustainable and cohesive economic growth in the area.
The only exception? The wine list—curated by Marco, it extends beyond the valley to offer a carefully selected collection of outstanding labels.

At the beginning of their adventure, a friend wrote them a poem, saying that Marco and Valeria had returned to the mountains to mend the threads that had been broken.
Today, those threads have become strong ropes—supporting a clear, consistent vision of a more sustainable approach to hospitality. Guests can feel the energy and beauty of this place. It’s a unique and meaningful way to honor a land that lies far from the usual tourist routes.

Watch the video story dedicated to Locanda Lou Pitavin at this link.

This story is part of the “Life Stories from Valle Maira” project, created by the Valle Maira Tourism Consortium and brought to life by photographer Eunice Brovida, videomaker Fabjo Hazizaj, and copywriter Milena Rivolta.

Discover more stories at vallemaira.org and on our social media channels.