History and culture: Rural architecture, Oral idioms, Peasant life

The Farmhouse

The Ligurian Farmers’ Houses: A Functional and Resilient Architecture

The houses of Ligurian farmers, simple but incredibly functional, tell stories of agricultural life full of hard work and ingenuity. These homes, usually structured on two floors, were designed to meet the daily needs of peasant families.

Structure and Functionality of Homes

On the ground floor, known as “u fundu”, there was the stable and the cellar. Here, wine and oil were stored, while the press and the oil mill, called “supressa”, were fundamental tools for agricultural production. In front of or next to the ground floor, a slate staircase led to the house itself.

The Terrace and the Pergola: A Corner of Tranquility

In front of the front door, there was almost always a terrace shaded by a vine pergola, known as a “topia”. The support posts of this pergola were fixed by perforated slate slabs, called “prie bose”. This space not only provided a cool place for rest, but also represented a deep connection with the earth and its fruits.

Basic but welcoming interiors

Inside, the furnishings were kept to the bare minimum. The bedrooms were simple, and a small sitting room was rarely found. The kitchen, or “cuscin-a”, was the true center of the house. This was the only room that could be heated, both with the traditional hearth, called “fugà”, and more recently with a stove. This space represented the beating heart of domestic life.

Architectural Details: Union of Aesthetics and Practicality

The gable roof of the house was covered with slate dormers, including the smokestack. The windows, called “barcun”, had slightly protruding sills also made of slate, often protected by railings and equipped with internal shutters called “arvescue”. These architectural details combined aesthetics and practicality, offering protection and resistance to the elements.

Daily Life and Agricultural Resilience

Peasant homes were modest but ingenious shelters, built to meet the needs of agricultural life. Every element, from the structure to the equipment, was designed to make the most of the available resources. The terrace shaded by the pergola represented a small corner of tranquility in a life dominated by fatigue and daily challenges.

The houses of Ligurian farmers, with their simple but functional architecture, reflect the resilience and ingenuity of the agricultural communities of Tigullio. These homes, steeped in history and tradition, continue to tell stories of daily life, of connection with the land and of a way of life deeply rooted in natural resources and local culture.

Sources

Bertani A., “Come vivevamo. Case, cibo e salute dei contadini in Liguria a fine Ottocento”, a c. di Marengo A., Savona, pentàgora, 2021

Citi D., “I racconti delle pietre, della calce, del ferro e del legno. Di paese in paese nella Liguria montana”, Siena, Edizioni Cantagalli, 2013

Plomteux H., Cultura contadina in Liguria. La Val Graveglia, Genova, Sagep, 1980

Porcella M., “La fatica e la Merica”, Genova, Sagep, 1986

Trekking and cycling routes that may interest you

Itineraries of different durations and suitable for every taste and level of preparation, to discover the most beautiful and evocative places and panoramas of the Ligurian Tigullio.