A land of peasants and a place of cooperation: the External Giudicarie

Giudicarie Esteriori - The External Giudicarie are a territory between Lake Garda and the Dolomites, a place of unspoiled nature, surrounded by limestone mountains. The area is characterized by the presence of three plateaus (Banale, Bleggio and Lomaso) and many scattered villages, built in wood and stone. Once upon a time the External Giudicarie were crossed by pilgrims and soldiers, and in fact still today you can see the post stations and inns that once welcomed so many travelers.

However, the central economy of the area has always been agriculture. Those who lived in the Giudicarie Esternal in the past were peasants, but starting from the mid-nineteenth century many decided to emigrate. In fact, the working conditions were harsh and the poverty a lot. Something changed only thanks to the work of a priest who is remembered as a meritorious for the territory, Don Lorenzo Guetti, who founded the first rural cooperative. Even today it is the cooperatives that guarantee the well-being of those who work in the Giudicarie Esstre, although now tourism is also added to agriculture as a source of income.