La Scola Hamlet

The hamlet of La Scola, steeped in medieval atmosphere, offers a fascinating journey through time.

Most of the buildings date from the 15th and 16th centuries, representing outstanding examples of Apennine medieval architecture created by the Maestri Comacini. These masters, from Milan and Como, helped spread the Lombard architectural style to various regions.

La Scola, one of the most characteristic hamlets in the Grizzano area, has come almost intact to the present day and is recognized as a historic center. Originally established as a military quarter, the hamlet had a strategic role of resistance and defense for the nearby monastic center of Montovolo, important both religiously and economically. Fortified, with towers and buildings integrated into the defensive system, it reflects its military and strategic function. The towers, incorporated or adjacent to the main buildings, create a striking interplay of volumes and form urban aggregates of considerable size. The connections between the central built bodies, particularly the "hanging corridors" on the upper floors, represent elements of internal castling useful in case of siege.


Walking through La Scola, you can also admire a large monumental cypress boasting seven hundred years of life: the tree still stands mighty today in one of the most suggestive corners of the village. At its feet, during the Christmas period, you can admire the wooden sculptures representing the Nativity, the work of Alfredo Marchi and Renzo Bressan (other statues complete the large nativity scene, set up along the narrow streets of the village).