Cà Rote: Desenzano’s Historic Neighborhood and Local Heritage

In Desenzano they are known as those of the “Cà rote”, broken houses. Proudly, they recall that their neighborhood, that of Capolaterra, is the oldest in the town and it was the birthplace of a mayor — Luigi Laini, who served as mayor for twenty years — along with three vice mayors, Giovanni Gasperini, Pietro Albieri, and the honorable Piera Bonetti, as well as the very talented designer Attilio Rizzetti. Over the years, counts and marquises have also passed through its streets.

Local Memories and Traditions

Among the people, remember also Anetta Campagna, who passed away at the age of 104. For two years now, every summer, “the kids of Cà rote” — who three years ago placed a plaque with the name of the hamlet — gather at Gina Baroldi’s “Massadrino.”

A few days ago, there were 110 of them, reminiscing about the past, celebrating the present, and planning for the future, already thinking about the 2002 festival. The youth of yesterday — still full of youthful spirit — recalled throwing stones at rivals from other Desenzano districts (Corte de’ Spaventi and Contrada dei Bo) to establish who was the strongest; and also, the bombings during the war, the train that fell from the viaduct and was dismantled piece by piece during the night, and the chickens stolen from chicken coops when hunger was real.

Many also nostalgically remembered Villa Rosina, which today is a private estate. “It was the most beautiful house of tolerance in Desenzano… There was a constant flow of people…” Proudly, it is remembered that at Cà rote there was also that house. It was a time long gone, yet nostalgia brings it back today, after forty years.