The heart of the valley

The project talks about stories of the last workers in the Valle Cervo. Despite the technological progress, local people are still tied to their old habits and keep on using old work techniques.

Located in the heart of the Piedmontese mountains, Valle Cervo is on the edge between Biella’s Alps and Valle D’Aosta. Surrounded by mountains and natural views, travellers are often unaware of these places, but sometime even locals are. Despite the technological progress, local people are still tied to their old habits and keep on using old work techniques and following a traditional lifestyle. The influence of these choices not only is typical of the traditional inhabitants but it is also typical of younger generations, who rediscover ancient work habits. There are also foreigners who decide to move on purpose. For example, Hu who came from China to work as a stonecutter, a job that once was typical but now is quite unusual. Aldo, from Bergamo, lives in a place called ‘the island’, because the the river gets high, that portion of territory remain isolated. He is a taxidermist, a job that nowadays is about to be lost. Mr Gabriele Serra, who along with Gian Maurizio Fercioni, is one of the pioneers of the tattoo art in Italy. He is originally from Milan, bought a mill, renovated it, and lived there ever since. There are many other people along with them who decide to pursue this type of social distance, that sometimes leads to isolation but other times leads to the rediscovery of old traditions and jobs that nowadays there is no trace of anymore, except in old books or old testimonies from our ancestors.