Valle delle Cartiere - Valley of paper producers
From Toscolano you can explore the Valle delle Cartiere - the valley of paper mills - on foot or by bike. The valley follows the course of the Toscolano river where several factories dedicated to papermaking line its banks, just as they did in the past.
Today, most of the paper mills aren't operating, but in Toscolano-Maderno, people are thinking of restoring at least some of them. Maina Inferiore, the last factory in the valley that stopped production in 1962 was lovingly restored and is now an important archaeological industrial site.
With community support, this unique place has seen a revival. Today Valle delle Cartiere is one of the most important places of early industrial history in northern Italy. The entire building complex, which had previously housed a paper museum, was renovated between 2005 and 2007, and a new visitor centre was set up.
An interesting tour gives visitors an insight into the history of papermaking and printing, which began in the Middle Ages. Also, there are always special workshops and guided tours that focus on the paper and its processing in the past and today.
In fact, in Toscolano-Maderno, there is currently only one mill left, namely the Cartiera di Toscolano, which belongs to the Marchi or Burgo group.
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In the paper museum in Toscolano Maderno, visitors get an insight into the history of paper production.
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In the paper museum in Toscolano Maderno, visitors get an insight into the history of paper production.
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In the paper museum in Toscolano Maderno, visitors get an insight into the history of paper production.
