Villa
Welcome to Villa, a hamlet of Lemie!
Hello everyone! Today I will tell you about Villa, a beautiful hamlet in the municipality of Lemie, located in the Lanzo Valleys. Its name, "La Villa" in Piedmontese and "La Vila'" in Franco-Provençal, immediately shows the great influence of this language in the area.
Physical geography
Villa is located on the right bank of the Stura di Viù river, between the towns of Forno and the capital of Lemie. We invite you to visit Forno, where you can cross a beautiful stone arch bridge dating back to 1477. This was a very important mule track coming from Viù.
History
In Roman times, the Celtic-Ligurian tribe of Graioceli inhabited this area, probably subjugated by King Cozio who opposed the Roman army. Later, during the year 1000, Villa came under the protection of the bishop of Turin and then in fiefdom to the Visconti of Baratonia, like other towns in the valley. Then, there were many feudal families with jurisdiction over the territory. In the fifteenth century, a flood completely destroyed the settlement, which was rebuilt further upstream where there were formerly stables and pigsties. This is why the town was once called Purcilli, while the origin of the name of the inhabitants of Villa, called "i Mognu," is still unclear.
The composition of the settlement
Villa is composed of several neighborhoods, each with a name that suits the characteristics of the neighborhood itself. For example, we find Piassa (square), Cumba (valley), Creusa (crossroads), Gaffinera (vineyard), Bernardera (bearded), Rucianera (rock) and others. You will be enchanted by the narrow streets and typical alleys of the mountains.
Transhumance
During the winter season, Villa had more inhabitants than Lemie, while during the transhumance, shepherds brought their herds to neighboring pastures, especially in the valley called Vallorsera. Here, in ancient times, bears were also present, and in fact, the name of the valley indicates this, Valeursse (Vallis Ursae). Unfortunately, the last bear of the Lanzo Valleys was hunted precisely in this area.
The name change
In 1940, thanks to a royal decree, the name of Villa was changed to Villa, which was easier to pronounce and more suitable for Italian.
The influence of Franco-Provençal
Villa belongs to the valleys where Franco-Provençal is still spoken. This language, which is at risk of disappearing, is a cultural and historical heritage of great value, which has been passed down from generation to generation.
Conclusions
In conclusion, if you want to discover fascinating mountain corners and relax surrounded by nature, Villa is definitely the perfect place for you. We are waiting for you!
