Fobello

Fobello lies in the Valsesia, at the end of one of the two branches of the Val Mastallone, its houses strung along the torrent. The name is disputed: an old legend traces it to a great beech that once stood near the village, a version cast in bronze on the fountain in the square, while some scholars prefer a pairing of two words of the valley dialect, fund, the rich and workable bottom land, and bel, beautiful. The arms show three beeches on blue, the middle one taller, and under the shield runs the motto «Eccoti il faggio che a Fobel diè nome», here is the beech that gave Fobello its name.

Vincenzo Lancia, founder of the car company, was born here. The village lived on farming, herding and emigration: from the nineteenth century its people left for Turin and the rest of Europe, making their name above all in hotels. What stayed is puncetto, a needle lace once used on sacred vestments and local costume, still taught in craft schools in the village.