In the locality of Forcella rises a hill known in toponymy as “The Castle,” at the foot of which stands the ancient little church of St. John the Baptist. Next to the sacred building starts the mule track of the “Stairs,” once the only access route to the Fondra Valley for those coming from the lower valley. For centuries, only the legendary memory of the castle survived, until recent archival research unearthed its history and encouraged new archaeological excavations. Investigations revealed extensive square perimeter walls and the remains of a sturdy tower with an entrance on the southeast side.
Documents suggest a gradual construction, begun in the 12th century and expanded in the 14th, under the rule of the Fondra-Bordogna family, still present in the coats of arms preserved in Bordogna and Fondra. Interestingly, a tradition associated with that power survives from the 1400s: tenants of the Mezzeno pasture still pour two wheels of cheese to the descendants of the lineage. Although historical records are scarce, it is certain that in the late 14th century the castle played a strategic role in controlling access to the valley, perhaps with underground passages of which no evidence remains, however. From the fifteenth century, finally, its importance declined, leading to abandonment and reuse of materials in local buildings.
