[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11078] 'Chimney sweep Takeo Onozowa in Santa Maria Maggiore.' Chimney sweep Takeo Onozowa and his daughter, wife and friend get a thundering applause during the parade of chimney sweeps in the streets of Santa Maria Maggiore, here in front of the town hall. He is the only chimney sweep from Japan. The parade is part of the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11056] 'Swiss chimney sweep in Malesco.' Swiss chimney sweep, from Vaud (a canton in Romandy, the French-speaking part of the country) with his mascotte smurf. He is clearly enjoying the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11054] 'Dutch chimney sweep Ramon Vittali.' Dutch chimney sweep Ramon Vittali, photographed in Malesco during the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo. Six generations back, in 1838, his forefather, a fourteen year old chimney sweep apprentice from Druogno, situated in the same Valle Vigezzo, walked all the way to Amsterdam, to work for another chimney sweep from Druogno. In 1844 he started his own company, which still exists and has become a modern, flourishing enterprise. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11050] 'Swiss chimney sweep with daughter of Japanese chimney sweep.' The daughter of a Japanese chimney sweep is impressed by the old tools of a retired Swiss chimney sweep during the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11052] 'Swiss chimney sweep and woman in Dutch traditional dress.' During the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo a Swiss chimney sweep poses with the wife of a Dutch colleague in more or less traditional dress. The retired chimney sweep carries the actual tools he used when he was younger. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11048] 'Swiss chimney sweep in Malesco.' During the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo a retired Swiss chimney sweep poses with the actual tools he used when he was younger. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11047] 'German chimney sweep in Malesco.' German chimney sweep from Brandenburg state, photographed in Malesco (Valle Vigezzo) during the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino). Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11045] 'Little chimney sweep in Malesco.' During the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo you not only see real chimney sweeps but also people from the valley putting on traditional dress to celebrate the old days. Nowadays, as folklore, that past looks as if it was happy. But in reality Valle Vigezzo was extremely poor and many children (boys, not girls) had to leave home in winter to live the hard and hungry life of little chimney sweeps in the cities of the Po plain. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11042] 'Little chimney sweep in Malesco.' During the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo you not only see real chimney sweeps but also people from the valley putting on traditional dress to celebrate the old days. Nowadays, as folklore, that past looks as if it was happy. But in reality Valle Vigezzo was extremely poor and many children (boys, not girls) had to leave home in winter to live the hard and hungry life of little chimney sweeps in the cities of the Po plain. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11040] 'Little chimney sweep in Malesco.' During the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo you not only see real chimney sweeps but also people from the valley putting on traditional dress to celebrate the old days. Nowadays, as folklore, that past looks as if it was happy. But in reality Valle Vigezzo was extremely poor and many children (boys, not girls) had to leave home in winter to live the hard and hungry life of little chimney sweeps in the cities of the Po plain. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11037] 'Danish chimney sweeps in Malesco.' Chimney sweeps from Denmark love to have fun during the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11036] 'Danish chimney sweeps in Malesco.' Danish chimney sweeps pose for their group photo around the Monument of the Little Chimney Sweep in Malesco (invisible in this photo) during the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11058] 'Swiss chimney sweep in Malesco.' Young Swiss chimney sweep, from Vaud, a canton in Romandy, the French-speaking part of the country. Photographed, with his mascotte, in Malesco during the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11057] 'Swiss chimney sweep in Malesco.' Swiss chimney sweep, from Vaud, a canton in Romandy, the French-speaking part of the country. Photographed with his mascotte smurf in Malesco during the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11055] 'Dutch chimney sweep Mark Schurer.' Dutch chimney sweep Mark Schurer, photographed in Malesco during the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo. He shows off the coat of arms of Amsterdam, with the text heldhaftig, vastberaden, barmhartig (valiant, steadfast, compassionate). Amsterdam is the city where he works. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11051] 'Swiss chimney sweep and woman in Dutch traditional dress.' During the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo a Swiss chimney sweep poses with the wife of a Dutch colleague in more or less traditional dress. The retired chimney sweep carries the actual tools he used when he was younger. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11044] 'Little chimney sweep in Malesco.' During the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo you not only see real chimney sweeps but also people from the valley putting on traditional dress to celebrate the old days. Nowadays, as folklore, that past looks as if it was happy. But in reality Valle Vigezzo was extremely poor and many children (boys, not girls) had to leave home in winter to live the hard and hungry life of little chimney sweeps in the cities of the Po plain. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11049] 'Swiss chimney sweep in Malesco.' During the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo a retired Swiss chimney sweep poses with the actual tools he used when he was younger. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11046] 'German chimney sweeps in Malesco.' Two German chimney sweeps from Brandenburg state, photographed in Malesco (Valle Vigezzo) during the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino). Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11043] 'Little chimney sweep in Malesco.' During the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo you not only see real chimney sweeps but also people from the valley putting on traditional dress to celebrate the old days. Nowadays, as folklore, that past looks as if it was happy. But in reality Valle Vigezzo was extremely poor and many children (boys, not girls) had to leave home in winter to live the hard and hungry life of little chimney sweeps in the cities of the Po plain. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11041] 'Little chimney sweep in Malesco.' During the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo you not only see real chimney sweeps but also people from the valley putting on traditional dress to celebrate the old days. Nowadays, as folklore, that past looks as if it was happy. But in reality Valle Vigezzo was extremely poor and many children (boys, not girls) had to leave home in winter to live the hard and hungry life of little chimney sweeps in the cities of the Po plain. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11039] 'Little chimney sweep in Malesco.' During the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo you not only see real chimney sweeps but also people from the valley putting on traditional dress to celebrate the old days. Nowadays, as folklore, that past looks as if it was happy. But in reality Valle Vigezzo was extremely poor and many children (boys, not girls) had to leave home in winter to live the hard and hungry life of little chimney sweeps in the cities of the Po plain. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11038] 'Girl dressed as Chimney Sweep.' During the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo you not only meet real chimney sweeps but also children dressed like the little chimney sweeps from the old days. Nowadays, as folklore, that past looks as if it was happy. But in reality Valle Vigezzo was extremely poor and many children (boys, not girls) had to leave home in winter to live the hard and hungry life of chimney sweeps in the cities of the Po plain. Photo Paul Smit.

[ITALY.PIEMONTE 11034] 'Danish chimney sweeps in Malesco.' Danish chimney sweeps pose for their group photo around the Monument of the Little Chimney Sweep in Malesco (invisible in this photo) during the International Chimney Sweeps Gathering (Raduno Internazionale dello Spazzacamino) in Valle Vigezzo. Photo Paul Smit.