Villa La Zolfatara or Palazzo di Miniera History of a symbolic place of Italian industrial archaeologyOrigins and Sulphurous Roots (XI XVII century) The history of Villa La Zolfatara is inseparable from that of the sulphur mine of San Lorenzo in Zolfinelli, in the Municipality of Urbino. Already in the eleventh century, there are reports of sulfur extraction in this area, which took place in a rudimentary way, in the open air. In the following centuries, particularly from the seventeenth century, the first mining activities in tunnels began, a prelude to the development of a real mining industry. The Albani Concession and the Mine Boom (XVIII XIX century) In 1743, Pope Benedict XIV granted the right to extract sulphur to the Albani family, a noble family deeply linked to the Urbino area. During the nineteenth century, the mine of San Lorenzo in Zolfinelli reached its maximum expansion. In this context, Villa La Zolfatara became: Summer residence of the Alban Princes Management and management centre for mining Administrative and operational hub of the mine In 1881, a report by the Mining Service reports that extraction also took place from a shaft called Villa, testifying to the close link between the building and mining activity. The Società Anonima Miniere Solfuree Albani (1884 XX century After the extinction of the Albani family (1855), the mine and the Villa passed to the Countess Antonia Litta Albani Castelbarco. In 1884, the Società Anonima Miniere Solfuree Albani was born, which transformed the villa into a real Mining Palace, expanding it and using it for: Management and administrative offices Accommodation for directors, engineers and technicians Logistical coordination of production Later, the company was transformed into the Trezza-Albani Company, which continued the mining activity until the first decades of the twentieth century. Mining Decline and Abandonment (1930s 60s) As early as the 30s, production began to decline due to exhaustion of veins and technical difficulties. In 1932, the activity was officially suspended. There were attempts to relaunch it in the 40s (Società Saturnia, 1943), but without success. Between the 50s and 60s, the San Lorenzo in Zolfinelli mine was definitively closed, for: The uneconomic nature of underground mining Competition from modern extraction methods (e.g. Frasch method in the USA) The new and expensive safety regulations The Villa La Zolfatara, deprived of its industrial function, was abandoned or only partially used and then sold to private individuals.Summary of the Journey of Villa La Zolfatara PeriodFunction XIXVII century. Rudimentary sulphur extraction area XVIIIXIX century. Summer residence of the Albani family XIX century (end)Mine headquarters Palazzo di Miniera 19301960...Industrial decline and sales...

VillaUrbino (Italy)
Price :
$1,954,100
($1,253 / m²)
Surface1,560 m²bedrooms9 bathrooms4

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