Ala di Stura

It is the municipality that gives its name to the entire valley in which it is located, but the origin of this place name remains uncertain: there are three most accredited hypotheses. The first is the usual derivation from the equivalent Celtic word; the second refers to the shape of the surrounding mountains; while the third is based on a Piedmontese dialect voice, itself taken from the Germanic, meaning porch, canopy and in general a place for meetings.
. History certainly does not help us, since although the existence of Ala already seems to have been established in the early Middle Ages, the first certainties only date back to a deed of 1267. What brought this municipality out of anonymity was the development of tourism in the 19th century, when it was somehow 'discovered' by the noblewoman, later considered blessed by the Catholic religion, Giulia Falletti di Barolo and the then minister of the Kingdom of Sardinia, Luigi Cibrario.

The town of Ala, which, like the other municipalities, is now known as the 'town of the people', was also discovered by the Italian government. Today, the municipality of Ala, which like all small Alpine towns has suffered depopulation, is equipped with modern tourist facilities and winter sports facilities.