Pezzolo is a linear village along the main road that follows the course of the Uzzone river.
It doesn’t have the compact, snug shape of a hilltop village, it is a more sprawling village that has grown up alongside the water. This very simplicity makes it one of the most authentic examples of the preservation of rural heritage in the Alta Langa.
The stone houses line the streets whilst the courtyards and animal stalls show that agriculture is still a key part of the local economy. This is a landscape which is put to work: vegetable gardens, fields, forests, and the constant sound of the river in the background.
In the hamlet of Carpaneta, you will find the small chapel of San Rocco, in a curious location overlooking the river. Its unusual, almost domestic position suggests a close connection between devotion and rural life, as if the saint's protection were directed as much at the residents as at the water flowing nearby.
A key route following the river
Up on the hill is the hamlet of Gorrino, home to the castle, a fortified residential complex in a dominant position dating back to the Middle Ages. From here, the geography of the valley can be seen clearly, from the agricultural valley floor, to the steep hillsides, and the ridges that enclose the horizon.
