"Masi"

Rural buildings in Vanoi

The characteristics of the buildings in Vanoi, both in the villages as well as other buildings spread over the territory, follow similar construction techniques.

The architecture is closely bound to a pure alpine style, but various particularities developed in this area have created extremely original results.

The most commonly found structure is the "tabià", a building which functions both as a stable together with a hay barn. The lower stable is built in stone and the upper part is constructed with tree trunks, (like a log cabin) that are sawn so as to slot into one another at the corners of the building.

The "ritonda" is part of the kitchen with an open fire and chimney; usually rounded or half hexagonal with windows, it protrudes out from the building.

"Piòl" or wooden balconies are often seen and sometimes they encircle the entire building.

Some dwellings have colourful religious frescos or "ex-voto" thanksgivings painted on their exterior walls.

"Baite"

The valley is dotted with these rustic dwellings that witness the hard alpine farming life of past times; these places today are where one can go to relax or are maybe seen even as a status symbol.

In the past valley folk lived much of the year in these houses, dedicating their time to hay making, tending grazing animals, cultivation of a vegetable plot, small manual jobs and resting too.

These rural constructions represent an important economic and cultural patrimony for the Vanoi valley. They are situated in the territory at an altitude between 800 metres and 1600 metres and are linked to the valley bottom by a vast network of pathways.

Wood and stone were used as building materials as they were easily found in loco.

The "masi" of Lozen 

The Lozen valley runs up from Zortea village at 1027 m to the splendid Lake Calaita (1608 m).

It is easily reached by those who wish to discover the small hamlets and rural buildings on the meadows around the small church of St. Romina.

We recommend the following itineraries:
 • Route A - easy – 1 hour from Masi di Lozen (1180m) to Rifugio Lozen (1230 m)
 • Route B – easy – 2 hours from Masi di Lozen to the alpine dairy farm of Malga Grugola (1782 m) or Lake Calaita (1608 m)
 • Route C – easy – 1.1/2 hours from Masi di Lozen to the alpine dairy farm of Malga Lozen (1468 m)