
The hamlets
Zornasco
Zornasco is one of the two hamlets of Malesco. It is divided into two distinct parts, a lower one where there is the Mulino dul Tacc , the largest of the 54 still existing in the first decades of the last century in the Vigezzo Valley, which remained operational until 1979, and a higher and sunnier part. This one is gathered around the church of San Bernardo da Mentone and the impressive Via Crucis dating back to the early '800. Zornasco was the birthplace of the brothers Bartolomeo and Pietro de Zanna, who emigrated to Vienna in the 19th century, were the inventors of the compressed air heater, the progenitor of the modern one. For the more sporty there is also a climbing wall near the parish house.
Finero
Finero is the second hamlet of Malesco. Geographically the village lies in the nearby Cannobina valley but is politically linked to the Vigezzo valley. Its remote and idyllic location makes it a perfect destination for lovers of tranquility and mountain hikes. On the rocky spur overlooking the church of Finero, in an apical position, stands the oratory of the Madonna di Loreto, also known as the Black Madonna. Every year, on the second Sunday of September, on the occasion of the feast of the Black Madonna, the statue of the Madonna is carried on the shoulders in procession in the parish church. Also worth noting is the Pian dei Sali oasis: a protected botanical area with a flat and marshy bottom, perfect for the culture of amphibians.
Photo © Christian Guerra