I lapidei ossolani: dalla cava al costruito

The present and historical quarrying and processing activities in the cross-border area between the Ossola Valley (northern Italy) and the Canton Ticino (Switzerland), and the use of dimension stones in local and national architecture, represent with no doubt a historical and cultural heritage of unquestionable importance. The dimension stones of this area are in many ways a “unique case”, for their abundance and lithological variety, due to the peculiar geological and structural set-up. In the past, their extraction, processing and application characterized in a decisive way the architectural and constructive culture, both in terms of prestigious architecture and civil buildings, establishing a relationship between “stones and culture”, “territory and its resources”. The first step was devoted to the identification of architectural works built with stone materials, with particular artistic and cultural interest. The monuments were selected on the basis of both their historical and social importance, and on the basis of stone materials, in order to make coherent proposals for their protection and future restoration projects. The study area can be divided basing on the exploited materials: granites (Baveno, Montorfano, Mergozzo), marbles (Ornavasso and Crevoladossola), “Beola” gneisses (Vogogna, Beura-Villadossola Trontano-Domodossola, Crevoladossola-Montecrestese), “Serizzo” gneisses (Antigorio, Formazza, Simplon, Anzasca and Divedro valleys), dolostones (Angera-Arona) and greenstones (Bognanco, Vigezzo, Brevettola and Loana valleys). Quarries and monumental buildings could be included into geo-touristic routes (quarry – laboratory – monument), for the enhancement of the local cultural heritage and resources