Not even the landslide in Mutagagia prevented the faithful from attending this annual event; until about ten years ago, a two-day festival was organised there, attracting hundreds of people. Here is what was recorded in the Ecomuseo archives:

Once again this year, the feast day of St Bernard attracted huge crowds, who made their way to the picturesque hamlet along the winding, scenic Bratta Road.

It was a full house at the traditional lunch, which featured sciat, pizzoccheri and polenta – all prepared and served superbly, as they are every year, by the many members of the Marantelli family, who proudly trace their roots back to this beautiful district.

From the poster:

Saturday 18 August, at 7.00 pm: an al fresco and indoor dinner with sciat, sliced meat, sausages, pork chops.

Sunday 19 August, at 11.30 am: Holy Mass

12.30 pm: lunch outdoors and indoors with pizzoccheri, polenta, sausages, pork chops, skewers.

In the afternoon, there will be surprise games featuring a special guest appearance by PAOLO ARGENTO 

After such a warm welcome, how could one not take part in the raffle with its generous prizes to help fund the refurbishment of the Church of La Bratta.

Don Tullio has now informed those present that a proposal has been drawn up to be submitted to the Curia, specifically concerning the restoration of the bell tower and the north wing of the church.

Archive photos by Vanda Cerveri and photos taken today by Monica Gastaldini

Archive:

• Feast of St Bernard 2012
• St Bernard’s Festival 2013
• Feast of St Bernard 2014

L'articolo MESSA PER SAN BERNARDO proviene da Ecomuseo Bianzone.

The title of the evening was: THE MEMORY OF THE TERRITORY.

First of all, the large audience watched the film again or saw it for the first time ‘Faraway Lands – Bratta and Piazzeda’, a production by director Valentina Capone, who has worked with Ecomuseo for years, running various theatre workshops, some of which took place in the garden outside the Palazzetto Besta.

In the presence of some of the actors who took part in the making of the film, people who lived through those times, and relatives of those interviewed – most of whom are no longer with us but live on in our memories – those present embarked on a journey back in time to the first half of the last century. The footage from Don Cyril, parish priest of Bratta from 1939 to 1957 and a keen photographer, came to life through the stories of various residents of Bianzone, supplemented by dramatised scenes.

A number of topics relating to everyday life were discussed, such as the kitchen, the school and the games of yesteryear. Then, in the second part, specific historical events were recalled, such as smuggling, the war, with particular focus on the exodus of Jews from the Bianzone area as well, and the changes that took place after the Second World War, particularly the construction of the Bratta Road e Piazzeda Street and the arrival of electricity.

The following is a presentation of the PRIMARY SCHOOL WEBSITE along with the work carried out over the last two school years and the MAP OF THE CRAFTS COMMUNITY which was created thanks to research carried out by the children at Bianzone Primary School as part of the CAMBIAMENTI….STRADA FACENDO project. With the help of families and friends, they mapped out the shops and artisans that existed in the last century, discovering how the village was once self-sufficient and had all the services necessary for daily life. The map now needs the community’s help to be expanded. For this reason, an appeal was made to those present, which is also open to others:

LOOK FOR PHOTOS AND VIDEOS RELATED TO THESE PLACES AND BE WILLING TO SHARE INFORMATION

This material will also be used for another project that Ecomuseo has included in the three-year programme: WE ARE ALPI.

In this case, the first step is to identify the ISSUES that characterise the Bianzone community. To encourage public participation, an online and paper-based questionnaire will be shared shortly.

L'articolo CINEMA ESTATE A MADONNA DEL PIANO proviene da Ecomuseo Bianzone.

L'articolo Colle d’Anzana, la montagna unisce Italia e Svizzera nel segno della speranza proviene da Ecomuseo Bianzone.

The programme

• 11.00 am: Holy Mass at the Church of Saints Joachim and Anne
• 12.30 pm Lunch at the old primary schools featuring: polenta and sausage or pork chop, meat cooked on the griddle, cheeses and soft drinks
• Followed by entertainment and music for everyone

Anyone wishing to walk to Piazzeda can follow the eco-museum trail ‘THE VEGIA ROAD IN PIAZZEDA‘.

Whilst we wait for the event, here are some past editions of the festival taken from the previous Ecomuseo website, along with some photos:

1. 25 July 2011 / Feast of St Anne 2011 On Sunday, 24 July 2011, the weather in the morning did not look at all promising for an outdoor party. At Piazzeda, the organisers were about to call off the preparations, but then, little by little, the clouds parted, the sun peeked out, and the traditional St Anne’s festival got underway once again this year. At 11.30 am, in the little church dedicated to Saints Anne and Joachim, the parents of Jesus’s mother, Holy Mass was celebrated by Don Giovanni, after which everyone gathered in the square in front of the old school to enjoy the traditional polenta. To round off the day, there was a game of tombola with everyone. (Vanda Cerveri)
2. Sunday 29 July 2012: Feast of St Anne in Piazzeda From early morning, the festive ringing of the bells from the little church in Piazzeda carries through the village and the surrounding area, inviting everyone to make their way up to this small, picturesque hamlet for the traditional feast of St Anne. The invitation is heeded, and for a day the heart of the hamlet begins to beat once more. And so the doors of the houses swing open, the church door swings wide, children play by the fountain, and small groups of people sit on the benches brought outside for the occasion, reminiscing about times gone by … The neighbourhood comes to life again, the church fills up for Mass, and then the tempting aroma of buckwheat polenta draws everyone to the square in front of the old school for an al fresco lunch cooked and served by volunteers (even Don Giò steps in as a waiter!). In the afternoon, there is the traditional tombola, which brings together young and old alike. The day then draws to a close with the motorcade making its way down into the valley, though there are also those who attempt the descent along the “strada vegia” (the new road was only built in 1977), following in the footsteps of the many residents of Piazzedaschi who once had to reach the village on foot. It is a truly evocative route that immerses us completely in the lush greenery of nature, where the only sounds are the rustling of leaves stirred by the wind and the song of birds exchanging feelings and warnings from one perch to another amongst the tree branches. (text and photos by V. Cerveri)
3. Anna 2014: 27 July On the occasion of the traditional feast of St Anne, despite the unsettled and rather disheartening weather, the small hamlet of Piazzeda manages to attract a large number of people motivated by the desire to get together and spend Sunday in this relaxing spot, surrounded by nature. At 11.30, Holy Mass was celebrated by Don Giovanni in the quaint little church in the hamlet dedicated to Mary’s parents, Anne and Joachim. Immediately afterwards, we find ourselves in the square in front of the old school It’s easy to enjoy polenta “mès-cia” or “”mugna” (made with buckwheat e maize) accompanied by stew, sausages and pork chops, all cooked and served superbly by a group of local volunteers, to whom we owe a heartfelt thank you. In the afternoon, there’s bingo, walks in the surrounding area and plenty of chatting with friends. (Text by V. Cerveri and (Photos by Emanuela and Vanda Cerveri)

L'articolo FESTA DI SANT’ANNA 2026 proviene da Ecomuseo Bianzone.

L'articolo FESTA AL COLLE D’ANZANA proviene da Ecomuseo Bianzone.

A story born in 1986
President Salvatore Scordari, visibly emotional, retraced the steps of a journey that began in 1986, when he had just arrived in the village and accepted the challenge of leading the group, encouraged by his wife Claudia Mevio and his new Valtellina friends. In his speech, Scordari paid tribute to the founding members, delivering a gift to those present and to the families of those who are no longer with us.

Among the names remembered with warm applause were the founders Igino Ronchi, Iolanda Castelanelli, Bruna Garzetti, Laura Nemesi, Stella Augugliaro, Alberto Giudice, Franco Paggi, Erica Zucchetti and Marisa Delle Coste.

Special recognition also went to the current Board staff - Bruna Fiorina, Franca Gosatti, Loretta Caligari, Renato Gusmeroli and Riccarda Negrini - tireless driver of association activities.

The value of wisdom
Bringing greetings from the municipal administration was Deputy Mayor Luana Dorsa, who read a speech focusing on the profound meaning of the “Third Age”. “You are valuable to our community“he began, emphasising that the association is a
example of “continuous becoming” capable of uniting different generations through the desire to be together. The deputy mayor also praised the vitality of the members, mentioning the association's internal walking group.

Projects for tomorrow
Despite the important anniversary, the gaze is already turned to the future. President Scordari expressed the hope that the openness towards young people and others in the country, which has started in recent years, can be further consolidated. “Sbut for new people to join
to us with new enthusiasm and new ideas” concluded the president, symbolically making an appointment for everyone to meet in ten years' time to celebrate the association's half-century anniversary together.

Archive photo by Igino Ronchi and Franca Gosatti

Photo of 21 April 2026 by Franca Gosatti

L'articolo 40 ANNI DI TERZA ETÀ proviene da Ecomuseo Bianzone.

In the area of Bianzone and Villa di Tirano, the best-known and most popular apple varieties are produced: from the  Golden, to the Stark Delicious, Gala e Fuji. The Valtellina apple-growing area stretches down from Grosotto (the highest apple orchard is at 700 metres) to Piateda and even further down, past the main town Sondrio: in all, a stretch of around 40 kilometres that runs along the main valley. To these is added the separate and much more circumscribed area of Postalesio and Talamona in the lower valley.

Images taken from:

• Stock photos from 2013 of glimpses of Via Guarnelle, Seal La Gatta and Contrada Selva by Vanda Cerveri
• Photo of 28 March 2026 at Madonna del Piano of frozen apple orchards

TIP: For further information go to the site Earth is Life and read the interview by Gian Piero Menghina, resident in Bianzone and owner of the’Azienda Agricola Menghina

L'articolo PRIMAVERA A BIANZONE! proviene da Ecomuseo Bianzone.

- School and family - 50 years together to educate

- Evolution of a community - Bianzone Nursery School from 1951 to 2008

Within the first volume is an article written by the then Don Bruno Rocca which explained the principles on which the school was founded and which inspire it even now:

• A benefactor who decides to leave a mark in memory of his father. “Not flowers but good works”....
• A Kindergarten that came into being because a population wanted it....to give them a suitable educational environment where through play they could learn to socialise and learn the rules of life.
• A kindergarten that works because the population is always active and participative......a community that wants to run its own kindergarten and is there to make it as beautiful and efficient as its own home.
• A very strong social sense, a pronounced sense of right but also of corresponding duty, a habit of personal commitment and dedication without delegating to the “boss” on duty, I would also dare say a local legislation that is particularly attentive to demanding free services in particular situations and moments: reading the old statutes of our countries from this point of view is particularly instructive.
• To whom do you entrust the kindergarten? To the Sisters and after them to the G. Mascioni Nursery School Foundation One entrusts one's children to those who are “experts in humanity” because they have made a gift of their lives. Education, but also School, is not first and foremost the fruit of increasingly sophisticated techniques and means, but first and foremost of testimonies. One educates by loving, by loving, by listening....

Sunday 22 March 2026 Once again the community will come together to celebrate the school and those who attend it on a daily basis.

At 10:00 it starts with the Holy Mass at the Church of St. Syrus.

At 12:00 lunch at the Omar and Pietro sports centre.

This is followed by children's entertainment and the traditional lottery.

L'articolo FESTA DELLA SCUOLA DELL’INFANZIA proviene da Ecomuseo Bianzone.

?Friday 6, 13 and 20 March 2026

Soup will be distributed starting at 6 p.m., but there is also the possibility of staying for dinner at the Bianzone oratory starting at 7 p.m.

?The cost of the take-away portion is 5 euro, and for dinner in the oratory 13 euro.

?For those unable to collect directly, home delivery will be made.

?For bookings, please contact:

- Bruna 3495937804

- Pink 3483020913

- Letizia 3280974870

Photos of the 2024-2025 initiative by Maria Rosa Lorenzi and Franca Gosatti

For more on barley cultivation in Bianzone read Vanda Cerveri's article: 1940s/’50s: Growing bears

L'articolo UN PIATTO CHE FA BENE: LA MINESTRA DE DUMEGA proviene da Ecomuseo Bianzone.

L'articolo SFILATA DI CARNEVALE OLIMPICA proviene da Ecomuseo Bianzone.