Rosazza; Freemasonry in the most mysterious village of Italy

Today we are inviting you to follow us in a very unusual and mysterious place: the village of Rosazza. Open your mind and be ready to dive into a world of esoterism and Freemasonry.

A village deep into a secluded valley

It is located in Piedmont, in the Italian Alps and specifically in the Cervo Valley borders with Aosta Valley. The tiny village of Rosazza is only 13 km away from the religious site of Oropa. The Cervo Valley itself is a very isolated place; you will not meet many people. With its extensive forests, high peaks and the River Cervo flowing in the bottom, this Alpine valley of unspoiled nature offers a beautiful but eerie atmosphere.

Made of only a few streets, Rosazza counts approximately a hundred permanent residents. The village is renowned in the region because its monuments and houses are displaying several esoteric symbols referring to the Freemasons.

Federico Rosazza Pistolet’s design

Rosazza has been named after its designer, Federico Rosazza Pistolet. This philanthropist and politician, who lived during the 19th century, was born in the village. After the tragic death of both his wife and his only daughter, Federico Rosazza Pistolet, dedicated his life to redesigning the village. He was inspired by the Freemasons and all the esoteric symbols to turn Rosazza into a mysterious and Romantic place. Every monument is built with local stones found in the valley- he employed the locals to rebuild the whole site. The church, cemetery, town hall, and castle are all creations of him. To transform all his ideas into monuments, he was helped by the architect Giuseppe Maffei.

Esoterism and Freemasonry

Freemasonry is an ancient brotherhood which, according to legend, originates from the medieval congregations of stonemasons and cathedral-builders. The symbolic architectural vocabulary of Freemasonry comes from these assumed origins.

Giuseppe Maffei made his creations display a great variety of masonic architectural symbols around the village. You will find five-pointed stars, squares, compasses, roses, ivy, etc. He also built fake ruins to recall ancient times, a typical element of the Romantic style. The castle of Rosazza is an excellent example of his work: with its high tower and half-fallen walls covered in moss, the castle seems to be coming directly out of a fairytale.

The church was built- according to Freemasons’ belief- as the "first step of the Initiation path for the elevation of the mind." It is packed with symbols such as scales, hourglasses, stars, and roses. The Swastika symbol, which is sadly more popular today as the emblem of the Nazis, is also visible on a wall. It has nothing to do with the 1930s and 40s: this ancient symbol first appeared in the Neolithic era. It has been used in various religions worldwide and adopted by the Freemasons to represent the universe and cosmical movements.

Thankfully, Rosazza attracts a minimal number of tourists, and it is never packed with people. The place retains all of its mysterious atmosphere and should definitely not be missed.

Church of Saints Pietro and Giorgio, Rosazza

Via Mazzini, 2, 13815 Rosazza BI, Italie