Ancient Professions
Industrial Archeology along Roggia Molinara
It once represented a precious motive-power because it set in motion not only the grindstones of the mills but also mechanisms of several machinery used in craftsmanship or in the early industrial activities. Activities were always linked with the exploitation of resources coming from the valley, such as timber (used for sawmill activities) and quartz (crushers for the production of metal and quartz powder). This kind of machine was known even in ancient times but began to be used only at the end of Middle Ages.
The Gold Diggers
(Bonini), The beds of the river Ticino (in the district Loreto) were combed by gold diggers from Oleggio till a few decades ago. Among them: the "Bulchét""Mapézi" (Bolamperti), "Cucui" (Colombo), "Mainìt" (Mainini), "Sicurìt" (Zuccherini) and many others, generally called by nicknames. Nowadays, still a few of them are looking for gold with the "trula", the board and other means used in this activity.
