Calcinere
Calcinere: A Small Jewel in the Heart of the Piedmont Mountains
Calcinere is a hamlet of the Italian municipality of Paesana, located in the province of Cuneo, in Piedmont. This small village is about 4 kilometers from the town center and is divided into two parts: "Calcinere Inferiore" and "Calcinere Superiore".
Physical Geography
Calcinere is nestled among the Piedmont mountains and offers visitors an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. The hamlet is surrounded by valleys and woods, with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. Moreover, due to its location, Calcinere is an excellent starting point for hiking or cycling excursions.
History
The name Calcinere may come from the old lime quarries that were present in the hamlet. In fact, in the 19th century, various types of marble quarries were active in Calcinere, including bardiglio and white marble. However, these quarries were discontinued at the beginning of the 20th century due to competition with Carrara marbles.
In the early 20th century, a power plant was built in Calcinere, inaugurated in 1922, which provided electricity to the Burgo Paper Mills, located in the plain near the Po Valley. The construction of the power plant employed many workers from Calcinere and Paesana.
During the Italian Resistance, Calcinere was also the site of a partisan station, held by the detachment of the commander Alfio Moneta, known as "Condottiero".
Monuments and Places of Interest
Calcinere retains the charm of mountain villages and offers its visitors several monuments and places of interest to visit.
The parish church of Sant'Antonio Abate is one of the most important monuments of Calcinere and features a Renaissance portal attributed to Matteo Sanmicheli. Moreover, the church houses two over-windows made of local white marble, carved from a sixteenth-century font.
The Calcinere quarries, which in the past provided the beautiful white marbles used in Turin and throughout Piedmont, are now discontinued. However, these quarries still represent an important testimony to the hamlet's past.
The Calcinere hydroelectric power plant, still in operation, is another point of interest in the hamlet. The electricity produced by the plant is still used to meet the needs of the surrounding area.
Conclusion
In summary, Calcinere is a small jewel in the heart of the Piedmont mountains, rich in history and charm. This hamlet offers its visitors an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, immersed in the uncontaminated nature of the surrounding valleys and woods. Moreover, visiting the monuments and places of interest in the hamlet allows discovering the history and culture of this area of Piedmont.
