Mike in parade
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The gathering, held in the northern Italian Alps, was marked by a wonderful parade and banquet, and a visit to the Chimney Sweep Museum. It was here that we learned the sad history of the young spazzacamini, or "climbing boys". Back in the 1700's, these young children were sold or, sometimes, stolen from Italy and sent to mostly France and Switzerland by parents too poor to feed their children during the winter months. They were maltreated and intentionally underfed to remain small enough to fit inside the chimney flues, and often did not survive to return to their families.
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Although laws were eventually enacted to regulate and finally outlaw this cruel practice, they were loosely enforced. During the last quarter of the 18th century to the first quarter of the 20th century, the Viggezzo and Cannobina valleys in the northern Alps suffered a devastating famine. Hundreds of young boys were placed into servitude by their parents.
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Village children representing spazzacamini of the past
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Photo of Fausto Cappini
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Fausto Cappini, age 13, was electrocuted in 1931 when his hand touched a high voltage wire while signaling to his boss that he had completed sweeping the interior of the chimney to the top.
A bronze statue of a spazzacamino was erected in Malesco, Italy in 1982 in remembrance of Fausto and all the sooty child sweeps.
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