The Ancient Mines of Gerfalco
Around the village of Gerfalco, you can find important evidence of the old mines, represented by long tunnels in the localities of "Fondo Chiasso", "Le Piagge", "Montevecchio", "Fonte al Buio" as well as the main ones of "Poggio Mutti". The tunnels crossed the hill of Gerfalco and reached the places indicated above. The mineral was melted at "Fondo Chiasso", at “Fosso di Mandromici" and at "Fonte al Buio", where you can still find slags left by melting activities. Explosives, electricity and petrol engines were unknown, the only tools were: winches, iron poles, wedges, shovels, axes, hammers, sledge hammers, nails, chisels, stairs. The only driving force were tenacious men and animals and the only means of transport were: donkeys, mules, horses and oxen, who transported material on their back or towing rudimentary wagons.