Il mestiere più praticato era quello del calzolaio, che essi andavano a svolgere in altre zone del Piemonte ed in Lombardia, ma anche a Firenze ad a Roma, dove aprivano bottega propria. In second'ordine veniva il mestiere del tessitore, che essi svolgevano a stagione prevalentemente nell'Ossola e nel Varesotto nord-occidentale. Nell'Ottocento l'emigrazione ebbe anche mete internazionali (Svizzera, Francia, Germania, Sudamerica) con mestieri diversi (commercio, muratore, tornitore, cameriere, lavoro dipendente).
The Territory
Quarna Sotto and Quarna Sopra are two municipalities located in the mountains on the northwestern shore of Lake Orta, at just over 800 meters above sea level. From here, one can enjoy a breathtaking view of the lake, the surrounding mountains, and the plain, with the Apennine mountain range silhouetted in the background on clear days.
For a long time, the two communities in this area have preserved their culture and dialects almost intact, thanks to their particular geographical position on the fringes of major communication routes. Although they share the same name and are less than a kilometer apart, they speak two different dialects and seem to have different ethnic origins.
Until a century ago, the population's activities were primarily agricultural and pastoral.
Starting from the 17th century, there was a very intense emigration, primarily involving men who left their families in Quarna while maintaining their residence there.
The most practiced trade was that of shoemaker, which they carried out in other areas of Piedmont and Lombardy, as well as in Florence and Rome, where they opened their own shops. In second place was the trade of weaver, which they mainly practiced seasonally in the Ossola and northwestern Varese regions. In the 19th century, emigration also reached international destinations (Switzerland, France, Germany, South America) with various trades (commerce, masonry, turning, waitstaff, and employee work).