"Alpeggio" Piazza

Naturalistic Knowledge

Albaredo (SO), Lombardia - Italy

The "alpeggio" Piazza belongs to the commune of Albaredo, and is located in the territory of the Parco delleOrobieValtellinesi, at about 2,000 metres above sea level. Between June and September[...]

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Mountain pasture in Valle del Drogo

Naturalistic Knowledge

San Giacomo Filippo (SO), Lombardia - Italy

Every year Gianni Quaini, a breeder from Samolaco, with the help of his family and two shepherds, leads his herd of cattle to the pastures in Valle del Drogo, a side valley of the Valchiavenna, in t[...]

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Chasing away january in Mandello del Lario

Rituals

Mandello del Lario (LC), Lombardia - Italy

Chasing away January in Mandello is a festivity especially children look forward to. It is in fact children - accompanied by parents and grandparents - that lead and crowd the procession that goes a[...]

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Singing in the oral tradition, Vallio Terme

Oral Traditions

Vallio Terme (BS), Lombardia - Italy

The municipality of Vallio Terme is located in the area of the "mountain community" of Valle Sabbia. A group of men (a dozen people) from Vallio Terme are known socially as "the singing ones". They [...]

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Stone quarry workers in Isola di Madesimo and Splughetta

Technical Knowledge

Madesimo (SO), Lombardia - Italy

In Valchiavenna, the Verde Spluga and Pietra Ollare quarries (trone) that extract two types of typical materials, remain active. The stone called Verde Spluga is a fine-grained rock de[...]

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Marionette Theatre in Lombardy. Compagnia Marionettistica Carlo Colla e Figli

Arts and Entertainment

Milano (MI), Lombardia - Italy

The Compagnia Marionettistica Carlo Colla e Figli (Carlo Colla e Figli Marionette Company) of Milan is one of the oldest artistic formations in the figure theatre field. With over almost three c[...]

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Corpus Domini in Gandino

Rituals

Gandino (BG), Lombardia - Italy

In the occasion of the celebration of Corpus Christi an important procession takes place in Gandino going along the historical streets of the town. The streets are decorated with zandaline, differen[...]

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Corpus Domini in Premana

Rituals

Premana (LC), Lombardia - Italy

An extremely popular procession takes place on Premana the day of Corpus Christi. After the mass celebrated generally by the Bishop of the Diocese of Lecco the procession takes to the streets of the[...]

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Alpine cheeses in Montespluga

Technical Knowledge

Madesimo (SO), Lombardia - Italy

In Valchiavenna the manufacture of cheese is an established practice and it is on one hand an economic resource, with the bitto, crott valchiavenna distributed on the wider market,[...]

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Agricultural producers and new farmers in Parco Agricolo Sud Milano

Naturalistic Knowledge

Lombardia - Italy

The agricultural sector in the Lombardy Region, and specifically in Parco Agricolo Sud Milano, is today faced with the challenges of a globalised food and agricultural economy and, the physiognomy o[...]

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The art of the puppeteer Achille Muchetti

Arts and Entertainment

(BG), Lombardia - Italy

Achille Muchetti, son of Ida and Aleramo, inherited his profession as an actor of prose from his father. Aleramo, a famous actor-manager of a theatre company called Compagnia Drammatica La Rinasc[...]

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The art of the puppeteer Adolfo Murovec

Arts and Entertainment

(MI), Lombardia - Italy

Adolfo Murovec, of Istrian origin, came to Italy when a young man looking for employment. Moving to Milan, he found work first in the markets. In Milan, he met his future wife, Maria, daughter o[...]

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The art of the puppeteer Arturo Marziali

Arts and Entertainment

(BG), Lombardia - Italy

Arturo Marziali starts his profession as a puppeteer thanks to his meeting with the Bergomask Puppeteer Pasquale Brignoli.A close friendship is born from this meeting and Arturo starts to develo[...]

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The art of puppeteer of Daniele Cortesi

Arts and Entertainment

(BG), Lombardia - Italy

Daniele Cortesi, puppeteer belonging to the Bergamo's tradition, works mainly in northern Italy and especially in Milan and Bergamo. He learnt animation and direction techniques by Velia Mante[...]

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The art of the puppeteer Giacomo Onofrio I

Arts and Entertainment

(BS), Lombardia - Italy

Giacomo Onofrio inherited his circus vocation from his family. He started as a clown, acrobat, contortionist and porteur in his father's circus. He was also an excellent guitarist and had a f[...]

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The art of the puppeteer Giacomo Onofrio II

Arts and Entertainment

(BS), Lombardia - Italy

Giacomo Onofrio belongs to a family of nomadic puppeteers who move with their caravans taking their shows around the squares of Northern Italy. Grandfather Giacomo initially started this business, b[...]

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The art of the puppeteer Giorgio Minutoli

Arts and Entertainment

(MI), Lombardia - Italy

Giorgio Minutoli was a Milanese puppeteer working in the Bergamo tradition, and was extremely active in Milan in the first half of the twentieth century.Initially he worked with puppets that had[...]

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The art of the puppeteer Giuseppe Burzio

Arts and Entertainment

(MI), Lombardia - Italy

Giuseppe Burzio was born in 1906 from Giuseppina Manuele and belongs to a family of well-known puppeteers, whose founder was the great grand-father, Gaetano, who disappeared in the early '800.He[...]

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The art of the puppeteer Giuseppe Onofrio

Arts and Entertainment

(BS), Lombardia - Italy

Giuseppe Onofrio inherited his passion for puppetry from his father, Giacomo, from whom he also learned the art of the circus. In his father's circus he worked as a contortionist, trampoline artist,[...]

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The art of the puppeteer Marcello Sempreboni

Arts and Entertainment

(VA), Lombardia - Italy

Marcello Sempreboni started his acting career around the beginning of the 1930s as a theatre actor after his marriage to Giulia Ambrosoni, performing in his father-in-law's travelling theatre compan[...]

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The art of the Puppeteer Marino Zerbin

Arts and Entertainment

(MI), Lombardia - Italy

Marino Zerbin becomes passionate about puppets in childhood, following the shows of Marcello Sempreboni, the one who will become his future teacher. Remaining fascinated by his shows he begins, in t[...]

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Wrought iron manufacture in Val San Giacomo

Technical Knowledge

San Giacomo Filippo (SO), Lombardia - Italy

Hand made iron manufacture has disappeared from the valley ten years ago, but we still found interesting to investigate this technique in an old artisan forge, füsina in the local dial[...]

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Production of the violino di capra in Campodolcino

Technical Knowledge

Campodolcino (SO), Lombardia - Italy

The 'Violino' di Capra (lit. translation "goat violin") is a typical hand produced cold cut that comes from Val San Giacomo. The cuts used are the thigh and shoulder of the goat, rarely of [...]

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Cremona Luthiery

Technical Knowledge

Cremona (CR), Lombardia - Italy

The background knowledge and expertise of a traditional luthier from Cremona treasures the ability to make bowed string instruments such as violins, violas, cellos, double basses. Crafting these ins[...]

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Community luthiery in Valle del Caffaro

Technical Knowledge

Bagolino (BS), Lombardia - Italy

The luthiery tradition in Valle del Caffaro is many centuries old: the first records date back to 1701 and relate to the instruments built buy the luthiers of the Mora family. Some instruments the M[...]

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Madonù Feast in Dossena

Rituals

Dossena (BG), Lombardia - Italy

Madonù is the name given by Dossena's inhabitants to the big Madonna of Sorrows wooden statue - a natural size simulacrum of the Madonna carrying in Her lap the body of Christ dead, surrounded by a[...]

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Sheep farmers practicing transhumance

Naturalistic Knowledge

(BG), Lombardia - Italy

In 2011 sheep farmers practicing transhumance in Lombardy were about 60, their flocks being between 1000 and 1500 sheep of the giant Bergamo breed. We met fifteen sheepherders. Transhumance is the s[...]

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The Good Friday Procession of Vertova

Rituals

Vertova (BG), Lombardia - Italy

On the evening of Good Friday in Vertova, the deposition of Christ from the Cross is commemorated through a large costume procession which is complex due to the number of actors that take part in it[...]

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Blessed Virgin Mary Procession in Morbegno

Rituals

Morbegno (SO), Lombardia - Italy

The Blessed Virgin Mary Procession takes place each year, on 15th August, in Morbegno. The Assunta Confraternity, one of the two historical confraternities in Morbegno, have their headquarters in th[...]

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Harvest and use of wild fennel in Valchiavenna

Naturalistic Knowledge

Chiavenna (SO), Lombardia - Italy

Dialect name: finocc selvadeg or anis Scientific name: foeniculum vulgare The use of wild fennel for food purposes, in Valchiavenna is quite recent, and focuses almost ex[...]

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Harvest and use of the rampion bellflower in Valchiavenna

Naturalistic Knowledge

Chiavenna (SO), Lombardia - Italy

Dialect name: rampunz Scientific name: Campanula rapunculus Rampion Bellflowers are harvested in lawns as soon as the last snow melts away, at the beginning of spring, wh[...]

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Harvest and use of dandelion in Valchiavenna

Naturalistic Knowledge

Chiavenna (SO), Lombardia - Italy

Dialect name: radicc Scientific name: taraxacum officinale The dandelion is locally known as "crazy salad" (insalata matta) and salad of the lawn (insalata del prato) - l[...]

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Harvest and use of wild garlic in Valchiavenna

Naturalistic Knowledge

Chiavenna (SO), Lombardia - Italy

Scientific name: Allium ursinum Wild garlic grows in an environment characterized by high humidity, plenty of water and shade. The undergrowth of Valchiavenna is therefore its ideal lo[...]

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Harvest and use of achillea moscata/iva herb in Valchiavenna:

Naturalistic Knowledge

Chiavenna (SO), Lombardia - Italy

Scientific name: Achillea moschata Wulfen; Local/ dialect name: Iva herb, Iva; (The plant is known in Switzerland as forest lady's herb (Wildfräulein Kraut) and has been used the[...]

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Harvest and use of chestnuts in Valchiavenna

Naturalistic Knowledge

Chiavenna (SO), Lombardia - Italy

The Chestnut tree (castanea sativa) can offer a lot in terms of food uses . At home and in restaurants, both the leaves (for infusions) and above all the achene (the fruit, which is the che[...]

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Harvest and use of the yarrow in Valchiavenna

Naturalistic Knowledge

Chiavenna (SO), Lombardia - Italy

Scientific name: Achillea millefolium; Local/ dialect name: yarrow, "ivona" (big Iva herb), "Iva matta" (crazy Iva herb) ; Diffusion: it is widespread in areas at a medium/ high[...]

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Harvest and use of thistle/ carlina thistle in Valchiavenna

Naturalistic Knowledge

Chiavenna (SO), Lombardia - Italy

Scientific name: Carlina acaulis Common name: carlina thistle, but also known in English as stemless carline thistle, dwarf carline thistle, silver thistle. In Italy some people call it "[...]

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Harvest and use of the mountain pine and other conifers in Valchiavenna.

Naturalistic Knowledge

Chiavenna (SO), Lombardia - Italy

Pinus mugo, larex decidua miller, pinus cembra, picea abies; Diffusion: widespread species at a medium/ high altitude; Use: pine cones, buds and spring shoots; branches are used for the [...]

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Violin repertoires of the Caffaro Valley

Oral Traditions

Bagolino (BS), Lombardia - Italy

The violin tradition in the Caffaro Valley dates back to the 16th century: archive documents attest to the presence of "sonadori de li violinj" hired by the Municipality of Bagolino to pl[...]

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St. Giovanni Bianco Holy Thorn

Rituals

San Giovanni Bianco (BG), Lombardia - Italy

The celebration of the Holy Thorn ritual is an extremely important event for the Valle Brembana entire community. Every year, thousands of believers go on a pilgrimage. The celebration lasts for two[...]

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St. Antonio Abate Feast in Cologno Monzese

Rituals

Cologno Monzese (MI), Lombardia - Italy

On the evening of 17th of January, the small town of Cologno Monzese celebrates St. Anthony,the Abbot, with the  blessing of animals and a bonfire. The meeting point is in Pieve San Giuliano, the p[...]

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St. Antonio Abate Feast in St. Antonio Abbandonato

Rituals

Brembilla (BG), Lombardia - Italy

St. Antonio Abbandonato is a very small town situated between Zogno and Brembilla in the Brembana Valley. The church, situated at an altitude of 1000 m, is located on a natural terrace which overloo[...]

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St. Antonio Abate Feast in Valfurva

Rituals

Valfurva (SO), Lombardia - Italy

In the small town of St. Antonio in Valfurva, every year on17thJanuary the traditional animals' blessing takes place and people from nearby villages take part in it. Since dawn, families with their [...]

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St. Antonio Abate Feast in Varese

Rituals

Varese (VA), Lombardia - Italy

Celebrations in Varese start early in the morning of 16th January, at 10 o' clock,  when the food stands are set up and open to business and the Holy Mass begins. During the church service is dedic[...]

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St. Antonio Abate Feast in Zogno

Rituals

Zogno (BG), Lombardia - Italy

The chapel dedicated to Sant'Antonio Abate- St. Anthony the Abbot - in the Piazza Martina village, was until 1880 a Poscante subsidiary church. Later on itmerged into Zogno parish church. The small [...]

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Cerveno's Holy Cross

Rituals

Cerveno (BS), Lombardia - Italy

The Holy Cross (in dialect Santa Crus) is a religious ritual which takes place in Cerveno, Val Camonica (BS), every 10 years. The live ritual is a sort of Passion dramatization which starts[...]

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Santa Croce in Monte Isola

Rituals

Monte Isola (BS), Lombardia - Italy

Every five years in Monte Isola, in the districts of Carzano and Novale, the Santa Croce Feast – Feast of Holy Cross - is celebrated and it lasts 5 days. On that event, Carzano is decorated with p[...]

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Holy Week in Morbegno

Rituals

Morbegno (SO), Lombardia - Italy

During the Holy Week in Morbegno, right in the centre of the parish church of San Giovanni Battista, an enormous wooden baroque bier is positioned. It soon has become the main point for all celebrat[...]

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The woodwork panelled room, Stüa, in Val San Giacomo

Technical Knowledge

Campodolcino (SO), Lombardia - Italy

The production of wood panelling used to insulate buildings' interiors transforms itself in a way to furnish rooms and it is very common in the Alps, present since the XVI century, and very common i[...]

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Stone roofs in the Alpine buildings

Technical Knowledge

Campodolcino (SO), Lombardia - Italy

The piòte (this term derives from the lombard dialect pioda, piöda -in val Taleggio- and corresponds to the word slab) are stone sheets made from blocks of gneiss, layers of ston[...]

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The use of willow and rural wine growing in Oltrepò Pavese

Naturalistic Knowledge

(PV), Lombardia - Italy

Thanks to its flexible properties, the willow plays a key role in the wine growing landscape of the Oltrepò. The many skilled crafts linked to this plant mark the boundary between the rural and ind[...]

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