In old mountain homes, it was common to see a stone shelf sticking out near the bedroom window, just above the window sill (called the “ciappazò”). This special shelf, made from local stone, was used to hold a urinal back when bathrooms were outside the house.
Long ago, going to the bathroom meant walking through snow, mud, or rain, which was especially hard for the elderly or sick. So, people placed a ceramic or metal chamber pot on this shelf, making it easier to stay clean at night without stepping outside.
Today, most homes have modern indoor bathrooms, and these old urinal shelves are no longer needed. With the arrival of running water, outdoor toilets disappeared, and so did the use of these shelves.
However, these shelves are a part of history and should be preserved when old houses are restored. They remind us of a time when life was harder but full of clever solutions.
Now, many of these shelves are used to hold colorful flower pots, turning them into beautiful decorations while keeping the memory of the past alive.