The Walser colonization south of the Alps, which began at the end of the twelfth century, was not the spontaneous movement of a population in search of new lands to cultivate and new spaces in which to expand their commercial affairs. Rather, it was the will of the feudal lords of the time that determined the gradual migration of the Walser. Rich in territories on both sides of the Alpine watershed, the lords harbored a desire to bring their poorly exploited lands into cultivation, in order to obtain the maximum yield of natural resources, expand their politicaleconomic dominance and compete with the other feudal lordships. This is how they favored the settlement of people from the Swiss Upper Valais, assigning each of them a suitable portion of land to ensure their survival.
The colonization process resulted in a new pattern of settlement equipped with all those features that are typical of settlements: adequate accessibility, dwellings, factories (such as mills and forges), chapels, fields, terraces, hay meadows, pastures and alpages.
To this day, in some communities, the signs of that colonization are perfectly legible. Being aware of them and knowing how to identify them allows us to make plans for, protect and appreciate lands that are one of a kind.