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Some documents report how peasants and winemakers from Vigezzo went to work in nearby valleys in the thirteenth century and a century later other sources report the presence of Vigezzini in Paris.
But it was in the seventeenth century that they began to emigrate in large numbers: Spanish domination, famine, misery and then the plague led them to seek their fortune elsewhere.
Different social classes do this: in France the jewellers Mellerio di Craveggia, in Germany the inventor of eau de Cologne
Giovanni Paolo Feminis, and then in Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, England, Spain, Argentina, the United States and Central America, without forgetting the different regions of Italy. All these countries were reached by artists (such as the painters of Vigezzo in Paris), merchants, jewelers, bankers but, above all, workers, peasants, woodcutters and the famous Rüsca, the
chimney sweeps
.
The relative wealth of the valley and the valuable buildings in the different villages derives from the fortunes that many of these migrants were able to build and bring back home.
A close relationship between these migrants, Italian descendants and not, and the Valley continues over time thanks to the associations of chimney sweeps present on all continents. Every year, on the first weekend of September, they meet in Santa Maria Maggiore on the occasion of the International Chimney Sweep Meeting, now in its 41st edition in 2024.
The history of the gathering tells forty years of suggestions, difficult stories, joy and light-heartedness despite the historical memory of a very hard job. Over 1000 “black men” from all over the world to celebrate their craft, which has its most authentic roots here.
A profession that for centuries has represented a job opportunity for the men and boys of the Valley, forcing them, however, to migrate and travel the roads of Europe.
From 29 August to 2 September, the Ossola valley will be the setting for a series of events that will attract thousands of tourists and travellers eager to get in touch with an ancient and fascinating world, the one linked to the profession of the
smoker
.
A long weekend of festivities and meetings between the many groups of chimney sweeps and the Vigezzini and tourists characterized by the black
smudge of soot
: an obligatory sign of good luck that everyone must have marked on the cheeks by a chimney sweep.
Days
29 August 24
02 September 24
Timetable
08:00 - 21:00
Information/To know
Suitable for Everybody
Wheelchair accessible
Location/The place
Address
Santa Maria Maggiore, VB, Italia
How to get there
Santa Maria Maggiore is located in Upper Piedmont, in the Vigezzo Valley, one of the seven valleys of Ossola, a stone's throw from Lake Maggiore and Switzerland. By car from Turin Take the A4 motorway towards Milan, then take the A26 motorway towards Sempione at the state border. In Gravellona Toce, continue on the highway until the Masera-Valle Vigezzo exit. Take the SS 337 of the Vigezzo Valley, reach Druogno and after a few kilometers you arrive in Santa Maria Maggiore. By train from Turin Turin-Novara-Domodossola railway line: about two hours and a half. Once you reach the Domodossola railway station, you will board a white-blue train of the panoramic line of the Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway, one of the most fascinating Alpine railway routes: after a pleasant journey of about 45 minutes, get off at the Santa Maria Maggiore station. Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway - +39 0324 242055 - info@vigezzinacentovalli.com
