On the facade of the De Gasperi house in Via Roma, you can admire this beautiful sundial dating back to 1863, still well preserved. It was created by the clockmaker Giacomo De Gasperi, who had also studied in Brera and was the son of the respected notary Francesco Antonio, who had built the large family mansion in the locality of *Bràch* (named after the Bracchi clan, which was widespread in Valdisotto). The use of sundials to indicate the passage of time (which in ancient times referred to the so-called “local true time,” corresponding to the sun’s passage over the local meridian) can be found in several examples in Alta Valle, but this one in Valdisotto stands out from the others because it is the only one where the numbering of the hours is marked on the equinoctial line. The motto at the bottom of the dial reads, “Signore aiutaci nel tempo” (“Lord help us in time”), with the dual meaning of asking Him for help during the hours of the day and also for favorable weather. In 1905, Abramo De Gasperi, Giacomo’s nephew, had some retouching done to the artifact, which is particularly interesting for its friezes and decorations: the two vertical sides of the dial are bordered by slender Doric columns accompanied by a twisted motif, the upper side features symmetrical embellishments, and the gnomon is fixed in the mouth of a *mascherone* (a stylized human face used in architecture for ornamentation) framed by geometric flourishes, all in black on a white background.
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