Point of interestWine-press "Dei Terrieri"
Cannero Riviera
The village of Oggiogno perched on the hillside high above Lake Maggiore is home to the so-called Wine-press “dei Terrieri”, a valuable part of the historical and cultural heritage of the village and its economy.
The press is kept in a stone-built farm building, and is easily found by following the signs in the village.
Constructed in 1742, it comprises a massive, squared beam of chestnut wood, 9.20 mt long and weighing several tonnes. A large wooden screw was turned by hand to lower the beam, which pressed the marc lying on a stone platform below. A network of gutters channelled the must through a single outlet into a container.
The press stopped working in the early sixties, but was conservatively restored in 1963 thanks to the devotion of the local people to their ancient traditions. This ancient part of village heritage can now be admired in its original splendour.
How to get there
By car: from the A26 exit to Verbania. Continue along the SS34 to the lakeside village of Oggebbio. From here take the Provincial road which winds up the hill to the left to the villages of Barbè, Donego and Oggiogno.By train: the nearest railway station is Verbania-Pallanza, 22 km from the village. Buses go from the station to Verbania Intra and from Intra to Oggebbio.
