Casapinta
Welcome to Casapinta!
Hello everyone! Today I will tell you about Casapinta, a small town in the province of Biella, Piedmont. We are about an hour's drive from the city of Turin, surrounded by mountains. Our town has only 396 inhabitants, but don't be fooled by its size, there is a lot to discover here!
The physical geography of Casapinta
The territory of Casapinta does not exceed 3 km² and is completely immersed in the Ostola basin. The highest point is on the hill north of the town center, at an altitude of 461 meters, while Lake delle Piane, an artificial lake, is the lowest point, at an altitude of 325 meters. The dam that formed the lake is in Masserano, but it also affects the municipalities of Curino and Mezzana Mortigliengo. The territory of Casapinta is divided into different fractions, such as Benzio, Bosco, Scalabrino, Rondo and Fantone, all within walking distance of the town center. The surrounding broad-leaved forests are extensive and ready to be explored.
The origins of the name Casapinta
But why is Casapinta called that? The name comes from the Latin "domo picta", which means "painted house". Isn't that a curious name?
The history of Casapinta
Casapinta, Mezzana Mortigliengo, Soprana, Crosa, and Strona once constituted the Mortigliengo community. Until the thirteenth century, the area was almost uninhabited and very wooded, but over the years, the population grew, and the territory stabilized. In 1243 Casapinta came under the control of the Municipality of Vercelli and in 1351 to the Visconti family, and then returned to the Vercelli curia in 1373. Afterwards, the inhabitants joined Casa Savoia to avoid being subjected to the rule of Bishop Giovanni Fieschi. In 1627, the inhabited centers of Mortigliengo separated, distinguishing themselves as autonomous municipalities, and Casapinta represented the southeastern part of the ancient community.
The historic buildings of Casapinta
For many years, Casapinta did not have a municipal building, and council meetings were held in rooms attached to the parish, while the registers were kept in the sacristy. In 1820, two rooms were made from a porch in Cantone Nicola, but this solution proved inadequate. Only between 1874 and 1875 was the actual town hall built, where the municipality administration is now located. In 1960, the seat of the municipality was transferred to a more modern building that once housed the Casa del Fascio. The Casapinta nursery, on the other hand, was transformed into the headquarters of the Prealpi Biellesi Mountain Community since 2005, while the children of the village attend the Mezzana Mortigliengo nursery school, serving other nearby villages.
Conclusions
Here is an interesting overview of the Municipality of Casapinta! Despite its small size, there is much to discover and admire, from the surrounding nature to its historic buildings. If you are looking for a quiet place surrounded by nature, Casapinta is the perfect destination for you. Come visit us!
