• Parks
    • Art & Culture

The ancient "Giovello"

The green stones of Valmalenco, which have been extracted and worked for centuries, were and still are an important part of the social, cultural and economical life of this area rooted in a centuries-old craft tradition passed down from father to son. The natural stone wall that used to separate the basin of Chiesa from the higher valley was given the name "Giovello". 

During the Middle Ages somebody noticed that the surfacing rocks were made up of very thin slabs. The inhabitants, who were already skilled at carving in the local iron caves, tested the first carving and working tecniques of Serpentinite schist

The enormous volume of debris that covers the whole area is the scrap material coming from the several underground caves. Hundres of humble and stubborn men, united in original corporations called "companies". For centuries, those men set out at dawn to reach the caves and carry out the arduous mining and stone braking works. 

The end product is the "pioda" of Valmalenco that, thanks to its unique physical and mechanical features, its durability and beauty, is widely used for roof coverings. The manual production phases of the "pioda" remained unchanged over the centuries. 

The area of the old "giovello" was abandoned at the end of the Eighties and is currently the core of an enhancement project which provides for paths renewal, descriptive signs placement, the restoration of a workshop and of a mine, which will become a museum. The result will be an itinerary which allows visitors to plunge into the roots of a tradition that has deeply influeced social and economical life in Valmalenco. 

Take me here: The ancient "Giovello"

Places

Sanctuary in Primolo

  • Art & Culture
Sanctuary in Primolo
647 mt

Bike rental - Rent Bike Palù

  • Active & Green
Bike rental - Rent Bike Palù
893 mt

Rhaetian Alps

Valmalenco is embraced by majestic peaks, such as Mount Disgrazia, Piz Bernina, Piz Scalino
  • Winter
Rhaetian Alps
1.5 km

Rif. Alpe Ponte 1521m

Alpe Ponte
  • Mountains
Rifugio Alpe Ponte
1.62 km

Church of Saint Emily

  • Art & Culture
Church of Saint Emily
1.83 km

Church of Saint Elizabeth

  • Art & Culture
Church of Saint Elizabeth
2.13 km

Rif. Motta 2236m

Cima Motta
  • Mountains
Rif. Motta 2236m
2.19 km

Church of St. Anthony

  • Art & Culture
Church of St. Anthony
2.77 km

"Isola" di San Giuseppe sports center

  • Active & Green
Centro sportivo di fondo a San Giuseppe
3.08 km

Rifugio Lago Palù 1965m

Alpe Palù
  • Mountains
Rifugio Lago Palù - riproduzione riservata
3.27 km

Parish church of St James and St Philip

  • Art & Culture
Parish church of St James and St Philip
3.75 km

Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Alpini

  • Art & Culture
Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Alpini
3.75 km

The Bagnada mine and museum

  • Art & Culture
The Bagnada mine and museum
3.85 km

Church of Santa Maria Nascente

  • Art & Culture
Church of Santa Maria Nascente
5.08 km

Rif. Gerli Porro 1960 m

Alpe Ventina
  • Mountains
Riproduzione riservata
5.59 km

Rif. Musella 2021m

Alpe Musella
  • Mountains
Rif. Musella 2021m
5.68 km

Rif. Mitta 2021m

Alpe Musella
  • Mountains
Rif. Mitta 2021m
5.72 km

Rif. Ventina 1960m

Alpe Ventina
  • Mountains
Rif. Ventina 1960m
5.77 km

Rif. Longoni 2450m

Sassa d'Entova
  • Mountains
Rif. Longoni 2450m
6.21 km

Rural settlement of Scilironi

Scilironi can be considered a rational production unit linked to the land.
  • Parks
Scilironi in Valmaleno
6.59 km

Where to sleep

LA BETULLA

Chiesa in Valmalenco
LA BETULLA
482 mt

GENZIANELLA

Chiesa in Valmalenco
GENZIANELLA
490 mt

PIGNA D'ORO

Chiesa in Valmalenco
PIGNA D'ORO
541 mt

FUNIVIA

Chiesa in Valmalenco
FUNIVIA
577 mt

LA LANTERNA

Chiesa in Valmalenco
LA LANTERNA
592 mt

CA' ERMINIA

Chiesa in Valmalenco
CA' ERMINIA
601 mt

PIZZO SCALINO RESIDENCE

Chiesa in Valmalenco
PIZZO SCALINO RESIDENCE
671 mt

MIRAVALLE

Chiesa in Valmalenco
MIRAVALLE
779 mt

B&B LA CADULA

Chiesa in Valmalenco
B&B LA CADULA
779 mt

LA ROCCA

Chiesa in Valmalenco
LA ROCCA
1.06 km

B&B PERLA ALPINA

Chiesa in Valmalenco
B&B PERLA ALPINA
1.06 km

TERRE AROMATICHE

Chiesa in Valmalenco
TERRE AROMATICHE
1.12 km

MIRAMONTI

Chiesa in Valmalenco
MIRAMONTI
1.24 km

MOTTA

Chiesa in Valmalenco
MOTTA
1.31 km

CAMPEGGIO AL MULINO

Chiesa in Valmalenco
CAMPEGGIO AL MULINO
1.39 km

TREMOGGIA

Chiesa in Valmalenco
TREMOGGIA
1.46 km

CASA ALPINA GIULIO DELLA TORRE

Caspoggio
CASA ALPINA GIULIO DELLA TORRE
1.67 km

MOIZI

Lanzada
MOIZI
1.69 km

CHALET REZIA

Chiesa in Valmalenco
CHALET REZIA
1.71 km

BIANCOSPINO

Lanzada
BIANCOSPINO
1.71 km