In the heart of Sicily there is a forgotten treasure, made of old buildings and stone wells, nowadays an integral element of the charming landscape in the hinterland of the island, what remains of the sulphur mines that were the protagonists of the world economy for almost two centuries. Among the ruins of the countryside of Caltanissetta and Enna, it is possible to follow the evolution of the techniques for the extraction of sulphur, the transition from archaic mechanical elements moved by animal power to more modern electrical motor, melting tools overtaken by the new efficient inventions of chemical engineering. A thriving business in the European outline, even though it was pegged to archaic and obsolete production systems, which have decreed its death. The greatest legacy of the yellow gold in Sicily is an estate of equipment in the area that it is worth protecting and imagining a reuse. Currently the ancient Floristella-Grottacalda mining complex is part of the homonym Park of the Mining, while a remaining area of Grottacalda Mine is poorly managed by private citizens.The article presented below is inspired by a detailed research on the historical and social dynamics of the economy of the sulphur, a work carried out in order to deepen the diachronic evolution of Grottacalda Mine. Starting from the acquired knowledge, several planning proposals were advanced for the recovery and the rehabilitation of architectural factories.

Industrial Archaeology and rehabilitation in Sicily: planning proposal for the ancient Grottacalda Mine

SAPIENZA, Vincenzo;Monteleone A.
2015-01-01

Abstract

In the heart of Sicily there is a forgotten treasure, made of old buildings and stone wells, nowadays an integral element of the charming landscape in the hinterland of the island, what remains of the sulphur mines that were the protagonists of the world economy for almost two centuries. Among the ruins of the countryside of Caltanissetta and Enna, it is possible to follow the evolution of the techniques for the extraction of sulphur, the transition from archaic mechanical elements moved by animal power to more modern electrical motor, melting tools overtaken by the new efficient inventions of chemical engineering. A thriving business in the European outline, even though it was pegged to archaic and obsolete production systems, which have decreed its death. The greatest legacy of the yellow gold in Sicily is an estate of equipment in the area that it is worth protecting and imagining a reuse. Currently the ancient Floristella-Grottacalda mining complex is part of the homonym Park of the Mining, while a remaining area of Grottacalda Mine is poorly managed by private citizens.The article presented below is inspired by a detailed research on the historical and social dynamics of the economy of the sulphur, a work carried out in order to deepen the diachronic evolution of Grottacalda Mine. Starting from the acquired knowledge, several planning proposals were advanced for the recovery and the rehabilitation of architectural factories.
2015
Industrial Archaeology; Refurbishment; Prison building
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/61841
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