Il Sanco
Sanco is a district of eastern Lessinia near San Bartolomeo delle Montagne (San Bortolo) in the municipality of Selva di Progno in the province of Verona. Sanco, which in the Veronese dialect means left-handed, has been translated into Zanco, an inexpressive toponym that, as often happens when names are Italianized, erases an important part of the history of the place.
Located at 940 meters above sea level, it borders to the east with the Val d’Alpone and the Val del Chiampo (the latter in the province of Vicenza), to the north with the slopes of the Carega mountain group (Monte Lobbia), to the west with the Val di Revolto and the Val d’Illasi, and to the south with the ridge between the Val d’Illasi and the Val d’Alpone, at the top of which lies Sprea.
The Zanco hamlet was inhabited continuously until the 1970s, when the then-owning family—its last residents—chose, during the economic boom, to build a new anonymous home just a few dozen meters away, leaving only the barn in use, which remained operated by the same owner. Since 2006, the small hamlet has been home to the writer, Lorenzo Albi, and since 2022, the easternmost part of the building has been designated as a guesthouse, welcoming all those who wish to spend some time in peace, far from the worries and obligations of everyday life.
The hamlet consists of a single residential unit, largely restored through conservation-focused, eco-sustainable renovation, using environmentally respectful materials and techniques, aimed at recovering its original beauty and ensuring the long-term health and stability of the masonry. The central core is the oldest part and, along with the barn and the upper hayloft (locally called teda), dates back to the 17th century, although the hayloft was entirely rebuilt after being destroyed in a fire started by retreating German troops during World War II. On the exterior wall of the hayloft is a small column shrine (icona) from the 17th century, depicting four sacred figures: the Madonna and Child, Saint Roch, and Saint Sebastian—the latter two invoked for protection against epidemics (see “Surroundings and Culture – Folk Art”).
The westernmost part of the building, now used as a holiday home, was added in two stages to the historic core between the late 1800s and the early 1900s, to accommodate the growing family, whose members formed new households of their own. The easternmost section of the complex, under different ownership, remains separate and in poor condition.
Coordinates: 45.6091314635, 11.1837300003 (Contrada Zanco)