Rorà, Province of Torino, Piedmont

5 Km da Luserna San Giovanni, the small center of Rorà lies at the foot of Mount Frioland in the upper valley of the river Luserna. In its territory are the quarries that since antiquity were used to extract the renowned Luserna stone, and the houses of the village shows beautiful walls made with this stone.

Info

Altitude: 967 m a.s.l
Population: about 250 inhabitants
Zip/postal code: 10060
Dialing Area Code: +39 0121
Patron Saint: St. Anna, celebrated on 26th July
Frazioni & Localities: Ruà.

History

It is a major center of Waldensian history. Here, between 1655 and 1685, a People's Army led by Giosuè Gianavello, the "Lion of Rorà", stopped several times the ducal troops. In those years the valley of Rorà was a resistence center of the Walser.

In 1706 Duke Victor Amadeus hunted by French troops who were besieging Turin, took refuge in the valley and stayed overnight in the house of Durand Rorà Canton. For centuries the economy of the town was based on working stone, especially the "gneiss" or Lucerna stone.

What to see

In the area called "fournais" (Fornace), it is still possible to see the ancient baking oven for the production of very pure mortar;
A very interesting example of local architecture is the small borough called "le pichere", which can be reached only on foot or with mules.
A tourist equipped area in the forest at Bric, 1200 mt a.s.l.

Genealogy & Links

Surnames recorded in the 1990s.

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