Museum
Since 2022 the Molino has become part of the Museum System of the Province of Lecco (Lecco Heritage). Established in 2008 and recognized by the Lombardy Region, the System boasts the participation of 51 museums and museum collections that guard and celebrate the rich and varied local historical-cultural heritage.
The history of the Museum
Member of AIAMS (Italian Association of Historical Mills) and "Luogo del Cuore" ["Place of the Heart"] of the FAI since February 2021, the Mill has been restored in all its mechanical and accessory components. The small Museum, which has recently become part of the Museum System of the Province of Lecco (Lecco Heritage) and has become the site of exhibitions, educational outings and cultural events, collects in particular assets related to milling activities, agro-silvo-pastoral activities and the family economy. It doesn't end here. The goal has never been only the historical and cultural recovery: a mill is an extraordinary sustainable hydraulic work, capable of producing energy for itself and for others. Inspired by the European Resto Hydro project, the next step of recovery is in fact to one day exploit the full energy potential of the mill.
The Molino Maufet is located in the Località Villatico in Colico (LC) along the path of the Ancient Roggia Molinaria that originates in Fontanedo, the first settlement in the country, dating back to 1100. The Molino Maufet was born in this period and precisely with a small construction visible upstream of the current historical complex. Even the Teresian Cadastre of 1718 gives a trace of it by mentioning a Level contract, as a "Pile Site for Barley with Water" owned by the Augustinian Friars of Gravedona, then taken over by the Sciucco Family already owner of the Molitorio complex, used for the grinding of Wheat and Corn as well as an Oven for baking. In its maximum splendor, the Molino could boast the presence of four hydraulic wheels to date, two have been rebuilt. Even today evident on the architrave placed at the entrance, the initials "MA BM" followed by "FEB 1826", attest to the year in which the Sciucco Family ceased to use the Pile continuing the production activity with only the Mill. On the facade you can admire the recovered fresco of S. Cristina of Bolsena, protector of the millers, celebrated on July 24.
The mill, active until the sixties, was abandoned due to the death of the last millers, called "the Maufet". Despite its troubled history, the mill remains tangible proof of how the culture of artisan - peasant work has survived the centuries. The architectural complex has preserved the original characteristics both on the outside and on the inside, including the mills (perfectly intact) for grinding. It is now owned by the Bettiga Family, the same one that has been dealing with restoration, enhancement and historical research for years. Inside, dedicated to grinding c/or third parties, it is possible to observe the two palms with French grindstones of La Ferté, set in motion by as many vertical wheels (weigher). The food was guaranteed by the prospicient drift of the water from the Secolare Roggia Molinaria. A small abbey mill with a stone mill is a suit for the production of chestnut flour used in sweet preparations.
During the reconstruction of the perimeter walls, the presence of an architrave identical to those visible at the exit of the shafts (fused) of the current wheels was detected. We therefore know the presence of a third palm dismantled probably in the mid-nineteenth century, serving the production of flour for own use and the adjacent bakery oven.
At the same time as the dismantling of the floor and the oven, the room was converted to residential use only in recent times. A third contiguous space in stone vault housed the stable. The entire upper part of the complex, except for the barn and the dryer, housed the living spaces of the millers.
Spaces
The building, first of the Augustinian Friars of Gravedona, belonged for centuries to the Sciucco Family and was purchased after years of abandonment and degradation of the Bettiga Family in 2016.
Abandonment and degradation destroyed a good part of it, but the restructuring made it complete again.
The structure is developed in two distinct adjacent buildings:
▪ a first, dating back to 1200, placed upstream, once used as a place of pile and of residence (for the piling of barley and dried chestnuts);
▪ a second (the main and widest), just further downstream on the same canal of reggia, composed of two distinct mills.
The oldest was used for own grinding and baking, in fact, it was equipped with a very ancient oven located in the room just adjacent, dating back to 1150. The oven itself brings the entire complex back to previous eras.
The next one of 1400 (two wheels) was used for grinding on behalf of third parties and for this reason had on the upper floor a special room useful for drying the grains given (the dryer).
The entire mill complex at its maximum splendor had a total of 4 hydraulic wheels.
The Mill Museum collects in particular goods related to milling activities and agro-silvo-pastoral activities, related to cattle breeding, milk processing, haymaking, cereal cultivation, field processing, viticulture, furniture and furnishings, family economy, popular religiosity.
"Anello dei Molini" trail
The "Anello dei Molini" path, traced by the CAI Colico for the purpose of the Molini di Villatico is signposted with the white-red track markers and follows, with a difference in height not exceeding 250 meters, the old via dei mills, which crosses the hamlet of Villatico. Starting from the Church of San Bernardino, through a suggestive panoramic path of about an hour in the way, in order we meet: the Molino della Molinera - Belatti, the Molino Secrista - Agretti, the Mill of the Dairy, the Maufet Mill, the Bregamin Mill, the Balanscee Mill, the Gaggini - Seregni Mill, the Murgana Mill.
The Molinaria Roggia of Villatico
Throughout the territory, in the past completely dedicated to cultivation and farming, the water was brought by its two large streams, the Inganna and the Perlino and by smaller streams and streams such as the Acqua dei Piot, La Val and the Merla. However, the most important waterway in the entire country in the context of daily needs and industrial activities, was since the Middle Ages, the one fed by the springs of Fontanedo, which, channeled along the Molinaria roggia, diametrically crossed the entire hamlet enslaving the Mills and licking the parish church of S. Bernardino, until finishing his journey in the Perlino river. This water was perennial and abundant throughout the winter and summer season, even in the periods of Magra del Rijeka Maggiore, Inganna.
The first spring was born in the valley, just below the spur of the tower and the last in the center of the village.
The waters of the Molinaria Roggia were used for:
▪ move the wheels of mills
▪ move simple machines in mills, sawmills and forgings
▪ irrigate vineyards, fields, vegetable gardens and meadows, the main economic resource of the community
▪ get water for public fountains and drinking fountains
▪ wash and rinse the clothes in the washbasins and along the course
In the course of the last half century, the use of these ingenious machines has gradually diminished for social and economic endemic reasons, however their ecological value and potential in the production of clean and renewable energy is increasingly recognized. To date, traits that are still perfectly preserved are visible and potentially functional in the prospective vision of their functional reuse.
Book a guided tour/organize a school educational tour
It is possible to arrange a visit with family, friends or school on any day of the year subject to availability.
VISIT ALONE WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS
Access to the Mill is only allowed accompanied by a guided tour of about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Adults 8 euros | Children (from 6 to 17 years old) 4 euros | Children up to 5 years old & people with disabilities free of charge. The proceeds are intended to support the restoration and initiatives of the Museum. Within the entire Molino structure, to guarantee the protection and conservation of the Property and the collections it contains, smoking is strictly prohibited and animals are NOT allowed.
EDUCATIONAL OFFER for SCHOOL VISITS
Duration: from a minimum of 1 hour and a half to a full day based on the options chosen. The Molino has restricted internal spaces that allow access to groups of max 15 children/people at a time alternately. There is also a large garden of 4,000 square meters with access allowed after supervision by the teachers and in compliance with common areas and greenery.
The Molino lends itself to hosting classic didactic visits as well as built ad hoc for students of all age groups, from the Nursery School to the University, to the University of the Third Age, to the Socio-Educational Centers for the disabled without particular motor difficulties (via
Of the accesses and the restricted internal spaces is in fact difficult to access with a wheelchair). The Guided Tour is in fact built by trying to shape the content based on the themes preferred/addressed by the requesting teachers, ranging from the wide range of themes related to the Mill (local history, history of the mills, operation of the mill, water/energy/sustainability, flour/grains/milling techniques, mechanics, tourism). It is possible to combine educational workshops related to eco-sustainability and nature as well as a visit to another nearby mill and/or the route along the Sentiero dei Molini to the Fontanedo Tower.
Example laboratory that can be combined in collaboration with APAS:
https://www.molinomaufet.com/beemill (practical creation of a house for pollinating insects to be installed at school).
Get in Touch
Info Visit
Via Fontanedo 33
Colico (LC) - Lake Como - Italy