14-07-2025
Story behind the tiny ‘Scottish village' in the Italian Alps with just 300 people
Nestled in the foothills of the Italian Alps is a unique little village with a distinctive Scottish feel
CALEDONIAN CONNECTION Story behind the tiny 'Scottish village' in the Italian Alps with just 300 people
ITALY and Scotland have shared close ties over the years, with thousands of Italians emigrating to Scotland over the past 150 years.
The influx in the late 19th century sparked a lasting love affair in Scotland with Italian cuisine, as many people settled and opened ice cream parlours and restaurants serving up pizza and pasta dishes.
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Gurro in northern Italy near the border with Switzerland has Scottish connections
Credit: Getty
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Legend has it that hundreds of years ago Scottish soldiers got snowbound in Gurro and never left
Credit: Getty
Others started up fish and chip shops, cafes, and hairdressing businesses.
But nestled in the foothills of the Italian Alps is a unique little village with a distinctive Scottish feel.
Gurro in the Piedmont region of northern Italy is said to be home to the descendants of Scottish soldiers.
A small unit called the Gardes Écossaises, which translates to the Scottish Guards, travelled to Italy to fight alongside the French king.
But during the Battle of Pavia in February, 1525, Francis I of France was captured during the conflict.
The Scottish troops fled the region and as they made their way back home they passed through Gurro.
Legend has it that they got stuck in the village during a snowstorm and decided to stay and put down roots.
Today, Gurro is home to around just 300 residents but there are still clues to be found reflecting its Caledonian connection.
Saltires can be found decorating parts of the village and locals have a unique dialect.
It is understood that residents of nearby residents struggle to understand some of the Gurro vocabulary, with Gaelic said to have an influence.
Inside Italy's most Scottish town
But one of the biggest giveaways is the underskirts of traditional dresses worn by some older women.
It features a distinctive chequered pattern, similar to tartan.
Some locals use the word "aye" as a way of saying "yes", instead of using the Italian word "si".
Gurro is not the only settlement in Italy with Scottish links.
Barga in Tuscany, is known as 'the most Scottish town in Italy'.
Many of the town's locals moved to Scotland around the end of the 19th century.
Throughout the 20th century, some of the migrants returned to the idyllic area.
Some locals in Barga can trace their ancestry back to Scotland and there's even a red telephone box in the town.
Cockenzie, Longniddry, Port Seton and Prestonpans in East Lothian have been twinned with Barga since 2006.
