Nestled at the foot of a steep slope, the village lies at the base of the ancient and extendet scotes pine forest , wanted by the austrians at the beginning of 1900 for the production of turpentine.
Until 1915 was a duty-free region of the Austro-Hungarian Empire which has left its mark also on the beautiful fountain just a short walk from the main square.
At the lower end of the village, preceded by a small square, is a church dedicated to the apostles Simon and Judas Thaddeus, dating partly from 1117, originating from a very old chapel. The main altar was a gift from Count Lodrone (1724), as indicated by the coat of arms with the rampant lion in red. What’s curious is the wooden pulpit with a protruding bracket holding the crucifix: there was a similar one in Magasa, following a Trentino-Austrian custom. The statue of the Madonna under a canopy is an object of great reverence and the protagonist of the Assumption Day procession on August 15th every year. From the churchyard, you can see the old washhouse still in working order.
The village lies on a slope, excellent for taking in the view, its streets connected by steep paths or steps. As you walk through the village, you can see cottages and rural buildings, their traditional architecture characterised by skilful roof warping, charming courtyards, entrances sometimes sheltered by vaulted walkways and wooden galleries, once used to dry ears of maize. It is common to find typical sloping houses with access downhill to the stable and uphill to the barn and living space; the pedestrian connection was addressed with external stairs or passages, sometimes vaulted, called “involt”. An example of a “unitary house” has been conserved, albeit renovated, which combined living and working spaces under one roof. It is called the “Vatican” (as it was inhabited by several families): on the ground floor there was a bread oven, communal stable, cheese dairy and cellar, the kitchen was on the first floor while bedrooms were on the second floor, and in the attic, the hayloft.
The village is framed by a series of meadows where a bean typical of Val Vestino is still grown. It is studied in research projects aimed at its recovery and promotion organised by Consorzio Forestale Terra Tra I Due Laghi-Ecomuseum of Val Vestino, in collaboration with the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart and Regione Lombardia.
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