Over the centuries Malesco has been the most inhabitated village of the Vigezzo Valley. Its origins probably go back to the prehistoric times; graves, furniture and the paving of an old road dating to the Roman period were discovered. In that period Malesco should have been an important outpost, as a guard of ways, through Finero and Centovalli, to the Lake Maggiore.

After the year 1000 Malesco became a rural community enjoying a certain degree of freedom. Already on year 1251 two its consuls could buy, from the community of Cossogno, two pasturelands in Val Grande. This important act is still saved in the archives of Malesco, and it is one of the eight big and old volumes which explain the long quarrel between the two villages and due to this act These documents reveal also some aspects of the daily life of this farmer community, very faithful to the religious traditions, to the laws of different authorities during the centuries as well as to their own laws. The oldest of these documents go back to the year 1450 and include rules of "neighbourhood", rules for elections of consuls and for their power. The attendance to religious services is imposed, rules for way and time for cutting- and picking up- wood are also established, as well as rules concerning the use of pasturelands and peasants' and farmers' wages. Rules for city' and country' police are included.

During the centuries many inhabitants had to emigrate where, due to their industriousness and intelligence, they became rich and famous and this gave them the possibility to improve their life and the life of their own village. The Cavalli family had among its members a famous lawyer, who became later minister of Maria Teresa of Austria. The Cioja family members became famous jewellers and bankers in France and Rome; among them Giacomo Antonio Bernardo, born in Malesco in 1701, emigrated to Paris and became Earl of Monzone, Minister Plenipotenziary, of the Duke of Modena, to the Royal Court of France and his valid representative at the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle. Also from Malesco came the family of the Earl Giacomo Mellerio, friend and supporter of Rosmini. The Trabucchi family members, emigrated very poor to France, in a short time were able to donate their village an hospital, and the Sotta family opened an important painting school.

The establishment of the hospital, during the year 1832, permits a very high progress at the sanitary level. Already since 1700 they cared the presence of a local Medical Doctor for assistance to destituted people. Very good M.Ds. were there among the polulation of Malesco: first of all an ancestor of the Earl Mellerio (1631-1697) and two of his sons.

During the 19th century Giovanni Antonio Cavalli, who studied in Vienna, was Malesco's M.D. His son Federico continued his father's work, and besides beeing a good surgeon, Director of the hospital and M.D. of the whole Vigezzo- and Cannobina- Valley, he became a good public manager and Mayor. He was able to clear up the financial situation of the village, to dress it up in the field of the public building and roads. He gave it its first public lighting.

In the educational field, already since 1801 Malesco opened its first male school, free for all local boys; an equal girl's school followed during the year 1827.

During the early years of the 20th century Malesco became a tourist centre and one of the most important guests was a famous greek literature expert, Ettore Romagnoli, who, for some summers, gave Malesco a sophisticated "Theatre Season".

During the 2nd World War Malesco had important ties with the Resistance. During the summer of 1944 Malesco had to bear the calvary of 16 partisans, captured in Val Grande, tortured for days and then shot in Finero. At the same time Malesco wept the young Romano Sotta, surprised and shot on mountains from German troops. Colonel Attilio Moneta was from Malesco: he was liaison-officer between partisans and Switzerland. He died together with Alfredo di Dio near to Finero in the autumn 1944, during a German- and Salò- troops conclusive attack against the free Republic of Ossola.

Today Malesco offers an easy access, through the Loana Valley, to the Val Grande National Park, which is the greatest natural reserve of Europe. A great many parts of land in this National Park belong to Malesco.

Here the sensible tourist, the lover of nature, can discover unbelievable mountain sceneries, dense growth and rich animal kingdom, as well as the remains of an ancient civilisation, and he can be charmed by an uncontaminated nature.


Text of Anita Azzari