Worth experiencing. The Copper of the Serenissima.
Just a few kilometers from Falcade, the pearl of the Belluno area in the Val del Biois, the Valle Imperina Mining Center offers the opportunity to immerse oneself in a centuries-old history where industry, perseverance, landscape, and gastronomy intertwine. The mining complex presents itself to visitors as an open-air museum in which nature and human-made structures merge almost seamlessly. The moss-covered entrances to the tunnels, the blocks of local stone and the majestic vaults of the furnaces, the walls, walkways, and service buildings—now expertly restored—tell the story of an epic of toil and ingenuity.
The exploitation of the rich chalcopyrite deposits of Valle Imperina for copper extraction is documented at least from the fifteenth century onward, but it is plausible that the first activities date back to even earlier times, perhaps as far as the Roman era. Originally, miners were organized into small, family-run enterprises. The mines, laboriously carved into the belly of the mountain, brought prosperity but also suffering and danger. Silicosis, a severe and irreversible lung disease caused by the unprotected inhalation of silica dust, decimated the workforce over the years, resulting in what researcher Egidio Pasuch did not hesitate to define as a “forgotten Holocaust” (https://centrominerariovalleimperina.it/presentazione-del-libro-silicosi-lolocausto-dimenticato-della-montagna-veneta-di-egidio-pasuch/).
During the fifteenth century, the Republic of Venice turned its attention to the Agordino deposits and began their nationalization in order to secure a steady supply of copper for the casting of its arsenals. The power and glory of the city suspended over the water thus owe much to this corner of the mountains and to the anonymous sacrifice of its inhabitants. In the years that followed, the doges enriched the mine with new and significant structures to optimize production, some of which can still be admired today. Mining continued even after the fall of the Republic, with a significant technological acceleration beginning in the nineteenth century. The last major modernization took place at the beginning of the twentieth century, with the conversion under the management of Magni and Montecatini, during which a hydroelectric power plant and even a dedicated railway line were built. After the Second World War, activity slowed sharply, until operations were definitively halted in 1962.
Despite the long and intensive exploitation, the subsoil of Valle Imperina is still rich in mineral resources. Today, however, its greatest wealth lies in the testimony it preserves and in the setting of the Dolomites that watch over the remains of this extraordinary enterprise. After a period of abandonment, the site was acquired and meticulously restored by the Municipality of Rivamonte and the Belluno Dolomites National Park. It was later revitalized by a local entrepreneur who transformed it into an immersive industrial archaeology experience. Knowledgeable and passionate guides lead visitors on a journey of discovery through the mine, accompanying them along the damp tunnels once walked by miners. A museum displays objects, documents, and photographs that retrace the long history of the site, while a rich educational program aimed at schools offers historical itineraries as well as geological and naturalistic explorations in the enchanting surrounding landscape.
The tourist offering is completed by the opportunity to dine and stay within the ancient walls. A restaurant invites guests to savor traditional mountain dishes prepared with local ingredients, including an authentic miner’s menu. Just a few hundred meters away, the renowned Pedavena brewery also offers a casual dining option. For overnight stays, visitors can choose the Ostello Imperina, located in the heart of the complex, a holiday home created in the former miners’ recreational club, or comfortable apartments situated in the immediate vicinity of the mine.