The Italian highlanders who may have Scottish roots

BBC ^ | 11 Aug 2017 | Dany Mitzman

[Theoria]

Thousands of Italians emigrated to Scotland in the 20th Century, but it seems that 400 years earlier a group of Scots may have settled in a village in the Italian Alps. So local legend has it… And there are plenty of signs to suggest that maybe, just maybe, it's true.

High up in the mountains of northern Italy, just a few kilometres from the Swiss border, the people of the tiny village of Gurro speak a strange dialect, incomprehensible even to the other villages in the same valley.

They have peculiar surnames, and the women's traditional costume features a patterned underskirt that looks suspiciously like tartan.

One possible explanation is that their forefathers include a unit of Scottish soldiers - the Garde Ecossaise - who served the French King, Francis I, and were defeated with him at the Battle of Pavia, near Milan, in February 1525.

The story goes that while trying to make their way home the Scots stopped in Gurro, where they got snowed in for the winter. Many locals believe they never left.

"I've heard talk about this story since I was a child," says Alma Dresti, who was born and bred in Gurro.

"I know it's probably at least part legend but I like to believe in it and I do think there could be some truth in it.

"I like to imagine those strapping young soldiers trying to return home, stopping here, and liking it so much they stayed even once spring had come."

[BatGuano]

Et Verro?

[Red Badger]

Simple DNA test could alleviate all doubt.................

[dblshot]

speak a strange dialect, incomprehensible even to the other villages
I was meeting my wife for dinner and arrived before her so I went to the bar where I ran into a bunch of Scots I knew in the oil and gas game. So I am standing there talking with them when my wife shows up. When we got the table my wife asks, "what language were those guys they speaking?" When I said English she looked at me like a cow looking at a new gate.

[Theoria]

Funny. I’ve had Singaporeans translate Australian for me. Not fun.

[Lorianne]

Maybe they are time travelers a la Outlander

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GowMI4wvmU4

Let Italy boast of her gay gilded waters
Her vines and her bowers and her soft sunny skies
Her sons drinking love from the eyes of her daughters
Where freedom expires amid softness and sighs

Scotland’s blue mountains wild where hoary cliffs are piled
Towering in grandeur are dearer tae me
Land of the misty cloud land of the tempest loud
Land of the brave and proud land of the free

Enthroned on the peak of her own highland mountains
The spirit of Scotia reigns fearless and free
Her green tartan waving o’er blue rock and fountain
And proudly she sings looking over the sea

Read more: John Mcdermott - Scotland The Brave Lyrics | MetroLyrics

[blam]

"When I said English she looked at me like a cow looking at a new gate. "

Spent my early youth on a dairy farm....never heard that one.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

There was a soldier
A Scottish soldier
Who wandered far away
And soldiered far away

There was none bolder
With good broad shoulder
He’s fought in many a fray
And fought and won

He’s seen the glory
He told the story
Of battles glorious
And deeds victorious

But now he’s sighing
His heart is crying
To leave those
Green hills of Tyrol

[llevrok]

I've got an Argentine friend who emigrated from Scotland as a boy. The only way I can understand his “english” is get a few drinks down me.

[jjotto]

I’m surprised there would be much doubt. That’s certainly within a historical time frame, and, as I understand the story, a few of their relatives from Scotland also immigrated there over the years.

[bigmak007]

Probably range cattle.

[nutmeg]

bookmark

[Red Badger]

A cunning linguist could study their language and decide......................

[blam]

"I've got an Argentine friend who emigrated from Scotland as a boy. The only way I can understand his “english” is get a few drinks down me. "

I've read that the English as spoken in the Southern USA today is more kin to the English spoken in England in the 1700's than the English spoken in England today.

[Albion Wilde]

Simple DNA test could alleviate all doubt.................

I was thinking that, too, all the way through the article. Perhaps they're afraid it will destroy their legend if it's disproved. But based on evidence presented, it seems highly possible.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Knew a couple from South Africa some years back.
They could be understood if they spoke slowly...

[bar sin·is·ter]

Aye...

[Mears]

Aha ! The”Find the Pope in the Pizza” contest guy.

.

[CodeToad]

Well, the French are just hillbilly Italians.