“Pietra su pietra” ONLUS association of Frassinetto

The “PIETRA su PIETRA” ONLUS Association has been carrying out environmental protection work, safeguarding traditions, and enhancing the territory of Frassinetto and nearby municipalities since its foundation in 2006. It aims to provide guidelines on how to operate in order to achieve certain goals, including preventing the destruction of many ancient artifacts still present in the area, restoring them “stone by stone”, respecting the essential nature and value of the existing buildings, rich in ancient knowledge, industriousness, respect for the environment, and love for nature that once created them. These objectives are pursued in various ways, mainly including: studies, research, and assessments on the state of conservation of artifacts of historical and artistic interest in the area; planning and execution of interventions aimed at their recovery and enhancement; organization of conferences, seminars, training and advanced courses, both theoretical and practical, also aimed at introducing young people to work; establishment of temporary and permanent exhibitions, including museum-type ones; publication and dissemination of conference proceedings, seminars, studies, research, and newsletters to inform about the activities carried out and initiatives promoted by the Association.

The Members’ Assembly established in 2012 the Municipal Register of Guides to the Monuments and Landscape of Frassinetto, in 2015 the Workshops for Knowledge and Skills Transmission, and in 2020 the Committee for the Cultural Landscape Observatory.
To enhance and publicize the presence of assets of particular historical and artistic interest, volunteer members have installed information panels near monuments, placed toponyms throughout the area, and organized guided tours.
In addition to information and training activities, the Association is engaged in craft workshops and in the recovery of pedestrian paths, devotional routes (Votive Chapels), traditional dwellings, and fortified houses.
The Verdassa area (municipalities of Ingria and Frassinetto) is characterized by rural structures with significant architectural value. The buildings preserve door and window jambs made of monolithic blocks and trapezoidal stone lintels, often repeated in superimposed orders.
Two presumed fortified houses have been restored by the Association through conservative restoration using the “scuci-cuci” method, seeking to bring them as close as possible to their original state without making substantial alterations that would change the fundamental elements of the building, with the aim of consolidating the structure, restoring its readability, and slowing its deterioration.
These works were carried out by local craftsmen, bearers of the “Sapienza del Fare” (“Wisdom of Making”), preserved in daily work and passed down from generation to generation within families.
- The “Mason dl Previ”, a fortified structure, presumed fortified house located in the hamlet of Monteu – municipality of Ingria, is characterized by a two-story masonry structure of small dimensions built on rock. It differs from surrounding rural buildings due to the presence of two stone slabs, remains of a trilithic portal. It was restored in 2020 thanks to private donations and the voluntary work of members and local families.
- The “Cà de Cunt” in the Carabin area near the hamlet of Fraschietto – municipality of Frassinetto consists of three small superimposed rooms. Its distinguishing features compared to the surrounding ruins are immediately recognizable, especially the five-slab portals of the openings.
In accordance with the general character of the building, the materials used suggest that it was constructed using reused building materials. Supporting this hypothesis are the barrel vaults, replacing simple wooden floors made of load-bearing beams and planking, as well as the quality of the masonry structure, too irregular in workmanship, composed of non-selected and unevenly laid blocks.
The remains of the fortified structure a few meters away, however, have all the characteristics of a tower-type fortified house, and it can therefore be deduced that this is the “true” fortified house, the “Ca de Cunt”, from which materials were taken for the new construction.
Restored in 2023 thanks to private donations, volunteer work by members, and public funding through the PSR via GAL Valli del Canavese, since 2024 it hosts the Mountain Fortifications Ecomuseum managed by the Pietra su Pietra ONLUS Association.