L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30 2023 www.italoamericano.org 30 L'Italo-Americano R osazza, a small village in Italy's P i e d m o n t r e g i o n , i s n o t y o u r a v e r a g e destination: located in the p r o v i n c e o f B i e l l a , j u s t a s t o n e ' s t h r o w f r o m t h e famous Aosta Valley and ele- gant Turin, Rosazza is a p l a c e w h e r e h i s t o r y a n d mystery meet around every c o r n e r . N a m e d a f t e r t h e 19th- centur y senator and p h i l a n t h r o p i s t F e d e r i c o Rosazza Pistolet, a key fig- ure in the Italian unification movement and a member of Freemasonry, the village is certainly worth a visit if you like the occult and esoteri- cism. Indeed, Rosazza's true claim to fame is its air of mystery, borne of its name- sake's foray into the esoteric: the village, with a mere hun- dred residents, is a canvas for Masonic symbolism, each building hiding a piece of a somewhat secret story. Federico Rosazza Pistolet, a figure shrouded in intrigue, was born into a wealthy fam- ily in 1833. He was a senator and a philanthropist, and a person whose life was deeply i m p a c t e d b y p e r s o n a l tragedies: it was this to set him on the path that would forever change the face of the secluded hamlet in the Biella province he had inher- ited from his ancestors. The turning point in Federico's life came with the untimely deaths of his beloved sister and her husband: overcome with grief, he turned to spiri- t u a l i s m a n d t h e e s o t e r i c , seeking solace in the unseen. His immersion in these mys- t i c a l p u r s u i t s l e d h i m t o t r a n s f o r m R o s a z z a i n t o a haven of symbolic architec- ture and secretive meanings, often based on Masonic sym- bolism. Freemasonry, an enigmatic and often misun- derstood fraternal organiza- tion, has a rich history that spans centuries and conti- nents and in Italy, its roots are deeply connected with the nation's culture and his- tory. In its essence, Freema- s o n r y i s a n o n - r e l i g i o u s , non-political society, that emphasizes moral and spiri- tual values and is known for its secret rituals and sym- bols. According to its mem- bers, freemasonry aims to foster fellowship, personal growth, and a commitment to community welfare. Its Italian branch is particularly noted for its influence dur- ing the Risorgimento, the 19th-century movement for Italian unification, when he played a pivotal role in shap- ing the birth and early devel- opment of the new country: it was in these very years that Rosazza Pistolet was part of it. B u t l e t ' s r e t u r n t o t h e R o s a z z a a n d e x p l o r e i t s streets and buildings. Here, each structure - from the quaint houses to the ornate fountains - is a piece of a larger story, a reflection of Rosazza Pistolet's esoteric j o u r n e y . T h e P a r i s h Church, dedicated to Saints Peter and George, stands as a landmark of cultural and historical significance; its construction began in 1876 and concluded four years later, following the designs of the painter G i u s e p p e Maffei, a friend of Rosazza Pistolet himself. It was built upon the grounds of an old c e m e t e r y a n d f e a t u r e s a Gothic arch on its façade, w h i c h i s a d o r n e d w i t h numerous roses, a nod to Rosazza's own emblem, the rose. This sacred building, now connected to the village by a bridge decorated with c r o s s e s a n d f i v e - p o i n t e d stars, houses an interior that mirrors the night sky - its ceiling painted dark blue, speckled with thousands of stars - which almost makes it look like an open-air tem- p l e o f c o s m i c w o n d e r . Beneath it lies an expansive crypt, supported by columns crafted from syenite, which adds to the church's archi- t e c t u r a l b e a u t y a n d m y s - tique. Syenite is a coarse- grained intrusive igneous rock similar to granite but without quartz, composed primarily of alkali feldspar m i x e d w i t h h o r n b l e n d e , biotite, or other minerals. This composition gives syen- ite a distinctive character and makes it a unique and often aesthetically appealing building material. B u t R o s a z z a P i s t o l e t ' s vision extended to the very layout of the village. The streets, aligned with astro- l o g i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e , a n d buildings designed accord- ing to Masonic principles, make the village a living can- v a s o f h i s i n n e r w o r l d . Streets here are lined with unique stone fountains, each distinct yet unified by the recurring motifs of the rose and the five-pointed star, symbols deeply rooted in Masonic tradition. The vil- lage pathways, particularly around the cemetery, are marked with "stone tears" s e t i n t h e c o b b l e s t o n e , a poignant representation of pain and a recurring element in Masonic symbolism, as well. It's said that Rosazza P i s t o l e t ' s d e s i g n c h o i c e s were driven by his desire to embed his personal journey i n t o t h e v i l l a g e ' s v e r y essence, merging his own path through grief with his spiritual discoveries and the local landscape. Another interesting place t o v i s i t i s t h e l o c a l p a r k which, like the rest of the vil- lage, is filled with symbols and hidden meanings and can be considered a living museum of Federico's eso- teric interests. All these elements, from the starry church ceiling to the many mysterious runic inscriptions and symbolic stone fountains, collectively narrate the story of Federico R o s a z z a P i s t o l e t . T h e y reflect his journey through personal tragedy, his explo- ration of the occult, and his desire to embed these expe- riences into the very fabric of Rosazza, a village that, with its mystical aura and architectural wonders, beck- ons visitors to step into a world where history, grief, and the arcane meet. B u t R o s a z z a P i s t o l e t ' s legacy goes beyond architec- ture, and is also embedded in the stories and legends associated with the village: t a l e s o f s e c r e t m e e t i n g s , Masonic rituals, and hidden symbols have made Rosazza a subject of fascination and s t u d y f o r h i s t o r i a n s a n d mystery enthusiasts alike. In the end, Rosazza stands as a monument to a man's quest t o f i n d m e a n i n g i n l o s s , reach beyond the veil, and leave behind memories as mysterious as his life. Fed- erico Rosazza Pistolet's exis- tence was truly a narrative of human experience, an explo- ration of the depths of grief, a quest for understanding, a l l b r o u g h t t o g e t h e r i n a place that tells us a lot about the incredible power of lega- cy. Rosazza: the secret village of freemasons LUCA SIGNORINI LIFE PEOPLE PLACES HERITAGE TRADITIONS Rosazza: the Town Hall and, bottom right, esoteric symbols on Rosazza's parish church façade (Photos: Romanotino/Dreamstime)

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