Francesco Caramora was the master goldsmith who gave rise to the successful artistic and artisanal tradition in Valenza. Caramora was born in Pavia in 1787. He learned the goldsmith's art in neighbouring Voghera and went into business with an uncle running a shop selling gold artefacts. In 1817 he married Giuseppa Tremolada and moved to Valenza, a quiet agricultural village at the time, where he set up his own business as a master goldsmith. In 1826 he purchased a farm surrounded by land, just outside Valenza: he lived here, and we assume he also had part of his workshop here.