The Waldensian Trail of Faith is an outdoor series of exhibits that trace the history, culture, and religious heritage of the Waldenses, Protestant immigrants from the Alps of Italy who fled centuries of persecution in the Old World before settling Valdese in 1893. The Trail takes visitors on a fascinating walking tour through replicas of homes, churches, and significant landmarks from both Italy and North Carolina. The Italian exhibits include the School of the Barbas, where young men risked death to study the Bible and become missionaries, and the Church of the Cave, which served as a safe place to worship.
Exhibits chronicling the Waldenses' life in North Carolina include original 1893 homesteads, a sawmill, the community oven where they baked their bread, and the bocce courts. Summer visitors should try to catch the Waldensian Festival, a celebration to commemorate the 1689 emancipation of the Waldenses that features music, crafts, Waldensian food, and a bocce tournament.
