Description of the attraction
Cavizzana is the youngest commune of Val di Sole in terms of gaining independence and the only one located on the right bank of the Noce River in the lower part of the valley. It gained independence in 1956 after years of joining the Caldes commune. In recent years, the town has experienced a period of demographic and economic growth, which affected the development of its infrastructure. Today, apple agriculture still plays a major role in the economy of Cavizzana, and in the past it also produced lemons and mined iron ore.
The toponym "Cavizzana" comes from the Latin word "karex", which means "reed reed". The city was first mentioned in 1200, and already in 1318 it received a name that has survived to this day. For centuries, this small commune was governed by its own Code of Laws, a copy of which, dated 1586, can be seen in the local museum. A terrible legend is told about one of the districts of Cavizzana - Fucine. Allegedly, in ancient times, a woman killed her husband there every two years. This happened until one priest cursed the whole area, and she was buried under a landslide.
The landmark of Cavizzana is the parish church of San Martino, built in the first half of the 14th century and rebuilt in the 15th century. It was later expanded and renovated. The facade is decorated with a portal framed by two windows and topped with a baroque skylight. The bell tower with a row of vaulted windows and a truncated brick pyramidal spire attracts attention. Inside the church, with its Gothic vaults, there are three wooden baroque altars. The tabernacle of the main altar, decorated with carvings, gilding and figurines, is considered one of the most beautiful in the entire valley.
Also worth seeing is the famous "Sass de la Guardia" - the Guardian Stone, standing on the ancient road that connected Cavizzana with Caldes. The date is stamped on it - 1632, which reminds of the plague epidemic that broke out in Val di Sole. It could be interesting for tourists to walk along the excursion trail, starting at an altitude of 1087 meters and leading to Lake Verdes on an alpine plateau, from which a dizzying view of the Val di Sole and Val di Non valleys opens up.
