Irone - the phantom village
Near Ragoli stands a small Medieval village in perfect condition, which has been abandoned for years now. It is called Iron, the phantom village of the 1630 plague, the one described by Manzoni in his Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed). The small church, isolated from the village and perched on a panoramic high-altitude location, is also of Medieval origin - traces of Gothic frescoes have been found underneath the plaster. It is dedicated to San Giacomo and in 1657 was assigned by Bishop Madruzzo to the Stefani family of Tione, who had a residence there. Their crest depicted a heron, hence the name "iron".
The village, which gets populated in the summertime, still features, in the way its houses are clustered, the typical Medieval Alpine village pattern, and still boasts the ancient well, which used to serve the entire small community. The town is the venue of numerous events organized especially during summer months, with the intent to promote local traditions and popular culture.
