Scuoletta Valdese di Villa

The old school in the hamlet of Villa di Prali (in Val Germanasca) is a historic Waldensian building with a distinctive bell on the roof. It was commissioned in the late 19th century by the Waldensian pastor 
P. Giraud and remained in use for primary education until the late 1970s. The building, situated in the village square of Borgata Villa, was built to meet the need for a permanent educational facility for the local community. For decades, it served as the village school, acting as a social and cultural hub as well as an educational one. With the depopulation of the mountains and the centralisation of educational services, the school ceased operations in the late 1970s. Today, the building stands as a historic landmark of the hamlet, situated near one of the valley’s oldest churches, that of St John the Baptist. It is currently on loan, free of charge, to the Municipality of Prali, which has entrusted its management to the ‘Gli Amici di Villa A.p.S.’ Association of Villa di Prali.