Gagnone and Orcesco are two charming hamlets of Druogno, in the Vigezzo Valley.
The hamlet of Gagnone is very unusual and has a unique urban structure, with buildings built near the banks of streams, to leave ample space for meadows and cultivated fields, once fundamental for the subsistence economy of the families on these lands.
Probably the great fear caused by the proximity of the water (the history of the Vigezzo Valley is dotted with episodes of large and small floods) led the inhabitants of Gagnone to decorate the façades of their houses with sacred images, dedicated especially to the Madonna, frescoed “guarding” bridges and river banks to protect the houses.
Worthy of note is the Oratory of San Defendente, with its simple and elegant structure, whose interior is enriched by an altar in polychrome marble and a precious organ.
Orcesco is a small and delightful stone village surrounded by green meadows, woods and fields, almost entirely restored, thanks to important works to bring this characteristic mountain architecture back to its former glory. Walking through the rural village, which still feels as though it remains in the distant past, you’ll find a shrine protected by a canopy of flagstones with a representation of the Madonna di Re con San Carlo and a splendid chapel frescoed by the Vigezzo painter Lorenzo Peretti with Gesù attorniato dai bambini (Jesus surrounded by children).
From spring to autumn, taking advantage of the pleasant climate and fresh air in this part of the Vigezzo Valley, we recommend visiting the two villages on foot, with an easy walk along the paths that connect these small settlements of Druogno.
Info: www.vallevigezzo.eu
