Ruins of old factories dot the landscape of the Valle dei Mulini (‘Valley of the Mills’). Their crumbling walls are remnants of abandoned structures that once filled the valley with human life. Now, the ruins have been reclaimed by Mother Nature. The striking foliage provides visitors with a soothing green backdrop as they explore the ruins.
Valle dei Mulini is a place located in Sorrento, in the Campania region of southern Italy. As the name suggests, this valley is home to many flour mills. The ruins of these mills are today a special tourist attraction, especially for those who like to travel off the beaten track.
The ruins of an abandoned factory, located in a canyon in Sorrento known as the ‘valley of factories’, Italy. ( CC BY SA 4.0 )
Mills Valley
Valle dei Mulini is believed to have been formed between 35000 and 37000 years ago. During this time, a large volcanic eruption formed deep chasms in the limestone plateau next to the center of today’s old town of Sorrento. Debris from the eruption has filled some of these fissures. Over time, water from an underground basin flows through the filled crevices, clearing away debris as it reaches Cape Sorrento. As a result, new water sources were created, encouraging humans to settle in the area.
The earliest ruins at Valle dei Mulini are believed to date from the 10th century AD and were built at the intersection of the Casarlano-Cesarano and Saint Antonino streams. This location is necessary because the buildings are factories and rely on water from the river to operate. One of them is a flour mill, which grinds wheat to produce flour for the people of Sorrento.
Ruins of a factory in Valle dei Mulini. ( CC BY SA 3.0 )
Another ruin is a sawmill, which supplied the cabinetmakers of Sorrento with various grades of high-quality wood and something called ‘wheat planks’. This is a type of board made of rice husks, which are the husks of wheat (or other grains) separated during the winnowing or threshing process. There was also a public restroom attached to the mills that women in Sorrento would use.
Ruins of a water mill in Valle dei Mulini. (Dennis Jarvis/ CC BY SA 2.0 )
The industrialization of Valle dei Mulini continued over the centuries. At one time, there were up to 25 factories operating in the area. Many of the ruins you see today were once working paper mills, making Valle dei Mulini an important and successful papermaking center of the Amalfi Republic, which existed from the 10th to the 11th centuries AD. Original.
Fall into ruins
The factories in Valle dei Mulini continued to operate for centuries until they were abandoned around the 19th and 20th centuries. In 1866, nearby Piazzo Tasso (‘Tasso Square’) was founded and the factories was transferred there. The move was necessary because the increasing humidity in Valle dei Mulini was becoming increasingly uncomfortable for factory workers. As a result, the factories eventually became obsolete and fell into disrepair as they were gradually abandoned over the following decades.
Ruins in Valle dei Mulini. ( CC BY SA 3.0 )
With humans gone, Mother Nature began to slowly reclaim the Valle dei Mulini. Increased humidity in the Valle dei Mulini has created a microclimate favorable for the growth of certain plants. These plants will not be able to survive in the drier surrounding areas outside the valley. For example, ferns begin to take root in the stone walls of factories, and eventually invade the ruins, giving them a delicious green mantle. The floor and walls of the valley were also submerged by vegetation over time, and the entire area can be described as a verdant landscape that is soothing to the human eye.
Today, visitors to Sorrento can see the Valle dei Mulini from above and can imagine that when humans are gone, the world will look the same. Alternatively, the more adventurous can also hike to the valley, where they will enjoy breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast.
Ruins in Valle dei Mulini. ( CC BY SA 3.0 )
