THE WORK OF THE STONEMASON
The stone used in the construction of a building is procured before construction begins and is found in outcrops of the mountainous formation (bedrock), as well as during the clearing of land that has already been cultivated or is being cultivated for the first time. The practice of reusing materials (stone and timber) from demolished buildings should not be forgotten, and should be kept in mind when interpreting the history of a building.
The blocks, once extracted, are reduced in size on site, depending on their use, by means of metal wedges embedded in the stone: an operation carried out by the stonemason.
Once the construction site has been opened, the mason, weaving the stones of the load-bearing structure, rectifies the stones as necessary for structural functionality, and thus can proceed until the building is completed.
If it is decided to refine certain architectural parts to improve their functionality or aesthetic appeal, the necessary stones are passed, before being put in place by the mason, into the hands of the stonemason, who will shape the new elements and refine their surfaces with his various tools.
Another figure who may be employed in particular cases is the sculptor, who has a higher level of skill than the previous ones: he carves the stone, bringing it almost to life with depictions ranging from flowers to animals and even human figures.
In our agricultural context, the most common sculptural works are the sacred icons found in the majesty along the roads and in the fountains.
Following the stages of construction, the last craftsman called upon to intervene is the pianaro, who crowns the building by covering it with a layer of sandstone slabs, referred to in various and countless ways depending on the location: piane, piagne, ciappe, piastre, hence pianaro, ciapparo, paranèin, cuatèn, to limit ourselves to a strictly Apennine context.


