The Great Houses of Pian Chiappozzo

The Casoni of Val Graveglia: Witnesses of an Ancient World

Among the green slopes of Val Graveglia, traces of an ancient agro-silvo-pastoral way of life still emerge in the landscape. Here stand the casoni, traditional buildings with a square plan, constructed with remarkable artisanal skill. Their dry-stone masonry, made of local stones and small stone flakes used as wedging, tells the story of the ingenuity and resilience of the communities that once inhabited these mountains.

Rustic and Functional Architecture

The casoni are distinguished by their imposing portals: monolithic lintels and doorposts—sometimes formed by stones laid horizontally and vertically—give the entrances a solemn character. The roofs, built with wooden beams and slabs of slate or local stone, provided protection from the elements, while windows were almost absent, replaced by small slits that ensured shelter and security for shepherds and livestock.

Life and Work in the Mountains

Until the early twentieth century, thousands of heads of cattle and sheep grazed across the meadows of Mount Zatta and Mount Chiappozzo. During the summer months, shepherds lived in the casoni, devoting themselves to pasture management and animal husbandry, structuring their days according to the rhythms of nature and livestock. Every stone and every beam of the casoni bears witness to a world of hard work, skill, and a deep bond with the mountains.