The twin villages of Quarna Sopra (Upper Quarna) and Quarna Sotto (Lower Quarna) were first settled by people of Celtic origin called the “Karmi”.

These two picturesque places are favourite holiday centres thanks to their mild climate, their beautiful scenery and the wealth of mountain hikes and walks the district offers.

Quarna Sotto is famous for its long-established tradition of making wind instruments; jazz musicians from all over the world have been clients of its craft workshops. The village has an unusual Museum of Local Culture and Musical Instruments, where over three hundred wind instruments are on display, some of them rare and of historical interest.

Quarna Sopra also has its traditional cottage industry of wood-turning. The village has many holiday houses of considerable architectural interest.

Some of the trails in the district are connected with episodes relating to the Resistance during the Second World War; this was the area in which the brigade of the renowned partisan leader Captain Beltrami was active.