In the lower valley, Cartignano is the smallest municipality in the Maira Valley. Made up of 14 hamlets and villages, it welcomes you with its two districts, Ponte and Paschero, divided by the Maira river and connected by an ancient stone bridge. Crossing it will literally make you walk through time, with its entrance portico and the characteristic central pillar decorated with 19th-century paintings.

Looking up towards the hill, you’ll see the only castle in the valley: the crenellated Berardi castle. Cartignano was already mentioned in a document from the monastery of Caramagna in 1091, where it was called Cereanum; it was the only center in the Maira Valley to be ruled by a feudal lord, which explains the origin of the manor.

If you love medieval art, some houses in the Galliana hamlet still preserve frescoes dating back to the 16th century. In the past, it was the site of an important market, and even today, you can find high-quality local products from its artisans.