Steps, Lunettes and Terracing
The History of the “Fasce” and the Landscape of Tigullio
The “fasce” represent a key element for understanding the agricultural history and landscape of Tigullio, including its picturesque hinterland. These terraces, the result of centuries of human work, testify to the ability of local farmers to transform impervious land into cultivable land.
The Terracing Process: A Work of Agricultural Art
The terracing follows the natural lines of the hill, using erratic boulders as support points or regularizing them to build the “seats”. This process also included the implementation of hydraulic systems to control rainwater. Small embanked beudi ensured that the water flowed without damaging the terraces.
The bands were equipped with stairs and passages to facilitate transit from one level to another. The retaining walls were built with dry-laid stones: the larger stones at the base to stabilize the structure, while the smaller stones tied with clods of earth-grass, called “cuighe”, guaranteed stability and retained the humidity of the ground. The cultivable surface obtained generally varied from 30 to 40 centimeters in depth.
The Delimitation Walls and the Vineyards
The boundaries of the properties were marked by delimitation walls, called “mascée”, with the stones of the last row arranged in a “book”. In some cases, protruding shelves with holes were created to insert support poles for the vines, known as “pasciùn”.
The Three Types of Bands: Steps, Lunettes and Terracing
Emilio Sereni (1955) classified the bands into three distinct categories:
Steps: Irregularly shaped shelves, obtained in the less rocky sections of the slopes, where the soil allows agricultural cultivation.
Lunettes: Very small semicircular shelves, supported by walls of stones and brush, ideal for retaining soil and humidity around trees on steep slopes.
Terracing: Large cultivable shelves obtained by building dry stone walls, with grassy edges to retain the earth brought back inside the retaining wall.
Maximize Natural Resources
These “fasce” arrangements made it possible to make the most of the impervious terrain, making the crops compatible with the seasonal cycles. The ability to rationalize crops and adapt them to the territory was essential to ensure the survival and prosperity of local communities.
The Tigullio “fasce” are not only an example of agricultural engineering, but also a testimony to the resilience and ingenuity of local farmers. Today, these terraces tell stories of a time gone by, but their legacy continues to shape the region’s landscape and culture.
Sources
Porcella M., “La fatica e la Merica”, Genova, Sagep, 1986
Viarengo G., “L’Albero della Cuccagna. Paesaggio, alimentazione e cucina nella Liguria di Levante”, Chiavari, Internòs, 2023
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