You’ve probably seen them while driving through Italy: square houses painted in a red color, often with green windows, standing alone by the roadside.
These are Casa Cantoniera, and they once played an important role in Italy’s road network. Today, most are abandoned or repurposed, but they remain a recognizable part of the Italian landscape.
What Were Casa Cantoniera?
Casa Cantoniera were built starting in the late 19th century to house road maintenance workers (cantonieri). Their job was to look after sections of the national roads:
- Repairing damage.
- Clearing landslides.
- Keeping the roads passable in winter.
The houses were positioned along state roads (strade statali), spaced at regular intervals to ensure constant supervision.
Their Distinctive Look
Most Casa Cantoniera share the same design:
- Reddish façade (known as rosso pompeiano).
- Green doors and shutters.
- A plaque with the road number (SS, Strada Statale) and kilometer marker.
This uniformity made them easy to recognize for both workers and travelers.
What Happened to Them?
With modernization and the expansion of Italy’s highway (autostrada) system, the need for cantonieri diminished. Many houses were abandoned or sold off. Some have since been:
- Converted into homes or agriturismi.
- Used as storage or offices.
- Left empty, slowly decaying.
What They Mean Today
Casa Cantoniera are more than old roadside houses. They represent:
- A piece of Italy’s infrastructure history.
- The growth of national mobility in the 20th century.
- A quirky cultural marker for travelers who spot them across regions, including Le Marche.
Some restoration projects aim to give them new life, turning them into hostels, restaurants, or cultural spaces.
Final Thoughts
Next time you drive through Le Marche or elsewhere in Italy, keep an eye out for the small, red roadside houses with green shutters.
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🌍 Usefuk Link:
- ANAS – Casa Cantoniera Project (official site with info on reuse projects)