Rorà is a village in Val Pellice, one of the Waldensian valleys of Piedmont. Eight centuries ago the Waldensians, Christian preachers who rejected traditional Catholic rites and indulgences and advocated apostolic poverty, mutual aid and the freedom to read the Bible, took refuge here from the Inquisition. That was enough for them to be declared heretics and persecuted.
The Waldensians survived and kept their identity to this day. A distinctive feature of the movement was a high level of education: there was a school in every village, and by the end of the 19th century literacy in Waldensian settlements was among the highest in Europe.
Today, despite its distance from the big cities, Val Pellice is known for its rich cultural life: literary and music festivals, farm fairs and exhibitions of contemporary art take place here throughout the year. Since 2017 Stone Oven House has added its own events.
Becoming part of the life of such a place takes time. We hope to make a worthy contribution to the culture of Val Pellice and the municipality of Rorà. When selecting residency applications, we give preference to authors who are ready to engage in dialogue with the people of the valley, and to projects that work with the cultural and historical context of the area.
