This area was the site for a settlement as far back as Roman times, but only in 1153 does the name Caprilji or Caprile appear on written records. The village was under the Radicati family of Cocconato who built the castle, since demolished, in the area where the parish church was later constructed. All that is left of the ancient fortress is a network of underground passageways that are set to be restored as a tourist attraction. The dominion of the Radicati ceased around the sixteenth century and the village, which passed to the Savoys, was enfeoffed to various families, up to count Ferdinando Sapelli, who acquired the landed title in 1839. This village was the birth place of Margherita Occhiena, mother of San Giovanni Bosco.

Agriculture is the main activity in the area. Wine-making is an important sector, with Freisa and Malvasia in particular. The most common crops are forage, pumpkins, hazelnuts, honey and the “pepper of Capriglio”, recently awarded ‘traditional product’ status. Organic agriculture is developing. The village lies on a hill surrounded by lush woods, ideal for walking.

EXPLORING THE AREA

In Serra there is the little church of San Sebastiano; and there are many social occasions organised by the local Circolo della Fratellanza. The ancient fountain with its natural spring water has recently been restored, and there are many devotional shrines in private houses.
In the hamlets of Serra and Bacolla Alta there is a group of farmhouses featuring the typical rural architecture of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
The house where Mamma Margherita was born is in the hamlet of Cecca.
In many areas there are fossils dating back to the Palaeolithic period.