Mompantero is a small municipality located on the left orographic bank of the Dora at the point where the Cenischia stream, coming from the valley of the same name, flows, and at the foot of the quintessential Valsusa mountain, Rocciamelone.
In the past, it was a district of Susa, whose main village was Urbiano, mentioned in Abbone's foundation testament of Novalesa in 739 as Orbanum. Certainly, the presence of many rock carvings among the woods and rocky outcrops along the paths and traces that cross Rocciamelone suggest frequentation of the territory since prehistoric times. On the bank of the Ganduglia brook in Urbiano, you can see the remains of a monumental arched structure that local tradition calls a Roman aqueduct. Although there are similarities with the Roman aqueduct in Susa, the stone structure has undergone repeated consolidation efforts over time up to the seventeenth century to support the channeling of water to Susa.
Near the hamlet of Trinità, perched on the left bank of the Cenischia stream, stands the Castelletto di Mompantero (13th century), connected to the Porta Ferrata, also a fortified construction that closed the Pietra Stretta passage, allowing control over goods in transit to Mont Cenis.
The village of Urbiano is also notable for an ancient ritual that has remained unchanged for a long time: on February 1, on the occasion of the patronal feast of Saint Bridget of Sweden, the Fora l'ours is performed: a resident of the village, whose identity is secret, dresses up as a captured and chained bear and parades through the streets of the town among taunts and jokes, and drinks at the inhabitants' houses.
With music and dances, the girls of the town finally tame the bear who reveals his identity. The mountain of Mompantero is dotted with many hamlets, some even at high altitudes along the road that leads to the paths of Rocciamelone.
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