Upega (Brigasc dialect: ÃÂpega) is a frazioneâÂÂsimilar to a hamletâÂÂlocated in the comune (municipality) of Briga Alta, Province of Cuneo in the region of Piedmont, Italy. It is one of three frazioni that form Briga Alta, alongside Carnino and Piaggia. Located in the Upper Tanaro Valley of the Passo Tanarello mountain pass in the Ligurian Alps, the Negrone, which forms the Tanaro river, flows through Upega. Located in the culture, it is one of a handful of villages where the Brigasc dialect of the Ligurian language is spoken.
Upega is situated in the Upper Tanaro Valley, more precisely within the Negrone Valley sub-basin, and is encircled by steep mountainous terrain typical of the Alpine foothills.
Lying at an altitude of about 1,297 meters (4,255 ft) above sea level, the hamlet is marked by rugged relief, including sharp slopes and karst features such as caves. A distinctive formation is the sinkhole known as Garb dër butauu, where the Negrone stream vanishes underground before reappearing further downstream, reinforcing UpegaâÂÂs character as an isolated, high-altitude settlement. The landscape also includes dense coniferous forests, notably near the Foresta delle Navette, alongside rocky outcrops, grassy escarpments, and terraced slopes historically modified for cultivation. Its closeness to Passo Tanarello, rising to 2,045 meters (6,709 ft), highlights the dramatic alpine terrain, where elevations increase sharply to link valleys and mountain passes along the international frontier.
The areaâÂÂs soils are generally thin and stony, making them more suitable for pastoral use than intensive agriculture. This reflects the broader geology of the Maritime Alps, dominated by limestone and metamorphic formations. Land use is therefore centered on grazing across uncultivated communal lands, while remnants of terraces point to earlier efforts to adapt farming practices to the difficult terrain.
As one of three frazioni of the municipality of Briga Alta, alongside Carnino and Piaggia, Upega represents a typical remote alpine settlement, characterized by high elevation, sparse population, and limited infrastructure due to its geographic isolation.