Via Sett: Bergeller in Bivio

The Septimer was crossed not only by kings, armies and merchants, but also by peasant families. Bregaglia was overpopulated in the Middle Ages because there were too few alps and pastures.  For this reason, Bregaglia farmers and their cows came from Soglio and Castasegna over the Septimer Pass to Bivio in the summer. Documents show that as early as 1579 the people of Bregaglia owned land in Bivio, but they were forbidden to cut wood. It was not until 1678 that the farmers of Bregaglia fought for this right and were able to build stables and settle down in Bivio.   

In the audio report , Reto Gini, Clara Giovanoli and Ita Giovanoli talk about their childhood between Bregaglia and Bivio. They grew up in Bivio, but their families come from Bregaglia. In the first half of the 20th century, they remember how they regularly went with their parents over the Septimer to Bregaglia and back to Bivio.