Croda mill
Dating back to the 17th century, this charming watermill nestled in the rock is fed by the waters of the Lierza stream. The foundations of the original building rest on bare rock, the very ‘croda’ (rock) of the mountain.
Today, it serves as a living museum that tells the story of milling and hosts temporary exhibitions of figurative arts.
This historic site has been a source of inspiration for artists and writers and has even been used as a setting for film scenes. Subsequent extensions made it possible to create living quarters for modest miller families, who were constantly struggling with poverty and the looming threat of sudden floods and devastating inundations, such as those in 1941 and 1953.
The old mill, a symbol of a rural civilisation dying out under the pressure of industrialisation, ground its last flour in 1953.
It then remained uninhabited for several years and fell into a state of desolate abandonment. Recently it has undergone meticulous restoration work, which has preserved the building’s original features. The millstone on the ground floor has been faithfully reconstructed and is now fully functional again.
Purchased by the Municipality of Refrontolo in 1991, this local cultural heritage site is now open to the public and is a destination for school and tourist guided tours.
