Pomace Mills in Valle dei Berissi
“I Lavatoi”: The Olive Pomace Mill Amid Ruins and Memory
At the beginning of the Valle dei Berissi, along the Rio Fravega, stand the remains of the ancient Olive Pomace Mill, also known as “I Lavatoi.” A large building now reduced to ruins, rediscovered from the overgrowth thanks to the Pietre Parlanti association and the historical memory of a local resident. Despite time and abandonment, its stones and ten remarkable settling tanks still tell the story of work and traditions in the valley.
Processing Pomace and Lamp Oil
Here, until a few centuries ago, the olive pomace – the solid residue from olive pressing – was processed to obtain lamp oil, essential for underground work in nearby slate quarries and for general lighting. This oil, obtained from low-quality olives, was not edible due to its high acidity, but it was precious as fuel: poured into lamps with wicks, it lit homes, streets, and squares from the 17th to the 19th century, bringing light to entire communities.
A Testament to Rural Architecture and Industrial Archaeology
The Olive Pomace Mill is more than an abandoned building: it is a symbol of industrial archaeology and rural architecture, preserving the history of oil production and traditional techniques. Its tanks and structural remains speak of a past where manual labor, community effort, and local ingenuity transformed nature into valuable resources.
Sources
Dentone M., Delucchi B., “Mulini e frantoi a Varese Ligure e Moneglia”, in Delpino M., Lagomarsino R., Barrai M., a cura di, “Mi ricordo il mulino… raccolta antologica di saggi, racconti e poesie”, Ed. Tigullio Bacherontius, Rapallo, 1999, pp. 30-50;
http://www.piccoloristoranteanticaliguria.it/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/cartina_lavagna.pdf;
https://www.primocanale.it/politica/42759-presa-diretta-lavagna-mulino-sansa-valle-dei-berissi.html
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