Have you ever wondered what the rich reddish-purple houses are that appear periodically along the strade statali (state highways) throughout Italy? These are the Case Cantoniere, basically the roadmen’s houses, and each one is identified by the road’s name and location in kilometers.
Since the ‘80’s Case Cantoniere have largely been unoccupied, but up until that time each one was the home for the person (and family) responsible for that section of the road’s maintenance, as well as a place to store materials and maintenance equipment.
Many of these houses remain closed and unused, others are now locally or regionally managed and a very few have become private housing. If you’re interested in purchasing a casa cantoniera keep your eye on the Gazzetta Ufficiale for the rare moment that one of these houses comes up for sale.
-- Contributed by Wendy Holloway (see bio), owner of the Flavor of Italy Country Inn, north Rome, and Flavor of Italy, LLC, a food & wine tour company.
March 23rd, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Thanks Wendy. I never knew that! Reminds me of my grandfather in Norfolk, England, whose family (4 girls) were raised in a tiny ‘railway cottage’ beside the tracks – which he helped maintain. The same concept.
March 23rd, 2010 at 1:37 pm
Thanks for that clarification – we knew it was something like that. They do stand out!
March 23rd, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Last spring we visited relatives in Calabia. They had a 100 year lease on a Case Cantoniere. They were converting it into a B&B. It was in the mountains and used by the snowplow workers during the winter. It was the very same color. They were not able to buy it, but the lease cost almost nothing.