We pass through the hamlet of Kratten, continuing eastwards, following the longitudinal layout of Sappada. Upstream from the chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes we can admire the two family house of s’Chrischtn – s’Krotars and the associated group of outbuildings. We stop in front of the s’Gottn paurn house, partially made of stone, which bears the date 1634 on the outside. It is not uncommon to see dates engraved or painted on houses, although more often they are found on the ridge beam.
In front of the house, a large mural by the painter Pierantonio Chiaradia, painted on the base of another Blockhaus, tells the story of the Sappada carnival, the Plodar Vosenòcht. The evocative figures of the Rollate stand out in the painting and illustrate the leading role of this typical mask, the ‘bear-man’, in which zoomorphic and anthropomorphic characteristics blend together. The mask, in fact, represents both danger and threat, the bear and the hunter, a rough mountain man, as can be seen from the features of the wooden mask that covers the faces of the figures. The name ‘Rollate‘ comes from the rolln, the noisy metal balls the character wears tied to his waist with a chain and that he makes resonate as he walks along, often accompanied by the colourful figures of the pajazn.
The carnival takes place in Sappada over a considerable period that precedes Lent and includes three Sundays dedicated to the Poor, to the Farmers and the Riches respectively, and the days of Shrove Monday, entirely dedicated to the Rollate and Shrove Tuesday, in which the fun skiing masquerade of the No club took place, but is now replaced by the children’s party.
The Sappada ‘masked’ wear appropriate clothes depending on the Sunday in question and put on funny sketches involving the spectators and the people in the houses they visit. They all speak in falsetto so as not to be recognized.
We leave Borgata Kratten and enter the Soravia hamlet. Between the two hamlets stands the Santuario Regina Pacis (‘Our Lady of Peace’), built in 1973 to fulfill a vow made during the Second World War. Outside there are works by the sculptor Augusto Murer. Continuing on, we find the small chapel of San Giuseppe surrounded by some examples of 17th and 18th century houses and rustic outbuildings.
The walk continues along the fenced road, which takes its name, Zaine, from the fences that delimit it.
