Together with those of Sessa, Cevio and Sonvico, the Cavigliano municipal wine press is among the oldest examples in Canton Ticino. The study of the artefact and the documentation has not so far made it possible to establish with certainty the date of its construction. The inscription 1609 carved on the main beam could refer to the year of construction or, a possibility not excluded, to that of a particularly important repair. Situated in a rustic building on the village square, the Torchio stands out for its size: the main beam measures almost 10 metres in length and has an average cross-section of over one hundred centimetres. The Torchio di Cavigliano, of the ‘lever’ type (also known as ‘Piedmontese’), was used until after the Second World War. Thanks to its excellent state of preservation and a careful restoration of the building that houses it (2006-07), the Torchio is today an important testimony to the rural architecture and traditional agricultural activities that characterised the region in past centuries. Very little is known about the exact origins of the ancient Cavigliano wine press; no documents have been found so far; the only certain information that allows us to date its construction and commissioning is linked to the date engraved on the main beam ‘1609’ accompanied by the monogram of Christ ‘IHS’ and a cross. What is known for sure is that three presses existed in the village: a private one at Canton Zott and two ‘of the commune’. These include the one ‘di dentro’, the remains of which were recently brought to light in the former school building built in 1871 (which now houses the Intermunicipal Technical Office), and the current press, known as the ‘dei Mazzucchi’ or ‘Macuchi’ press, which originally belonged to the Terra di Golino. To confirm this, some legends are cited that may, at least in part, include some truth. MORE INFORMATION