In Garlate, many remember the old, time-worn door thought to date back to the 1800s.
The gateway’s arch features two terracotta panels portraying the Annunciation:
on the left, the Angel, and on the right, the Virgin on her knees. These likely 17th-century frescoes conveyed good wishes to those approaching the home, as if beckoning (or heralding) “good news”.
One intriguing aspect worth noting is the building’s orientation, facing east. Historically, “it would seem there was never a convent (here); such rumours are often linked to pious or religious depictions that in recent times, are misunderstood.” Over the centuries, transformations have altered the farmhouse into its present-day form, especially its interiors. However, some of the structures, such as the original chestnut wooden gallery and a distinct ambience reminiscent of the past, have been preserved. Notable features around the building’s perimeter include the protruding quarry stones and, inside, an unused wall well. Inside the court, a picturesque view of Monte Barro unfolds, almost akin to a painting, visible from the open side.
