Gualchiera "Bellu"

Industrial archaeology complex with a mill and two fulling mills on the Rio Torrei, including the last fulling mill still operating in Sardinia.

Opening hours unknown

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About the museum

In Tiana, in the Barbagia di Ollolai, between the 18th century and the mid-20th century, the village’s economy depended largely on mills and fulling mills built along the watercourses. Today a complex survives along the Rio Torrei, made up of a water mill and two fulling mills, which together form the industrial archaeology museum “Le vie dell’acqua”. The mill was used to grind wheat, while the fulling mills were used to full wool.

The fulling mill still in operation, known as sa Cracchera de Tziu Bellu, is considered the last active one in Sardinia and one of very few left in Europe. It is a stone building with a wooden roof: inside, downy oak hammers, driven by a water wheel powered by the stream, beat the orbace (traditional wool cloth), which is kept constantly wet with warm water, making it softer, stronger and waterproof. Dyeing was traditionally done with saffron, pomegranate, walnut, chestnut and vine.

Thanks to the fulling mills, Tiana was a reference point for many villages of the Barbagia, whose inhabitants paid for the service with meat, cheese, nougat and wine to obtain cloth for traditional costumes. Work took place mainly in autumn and winter, when the river’s flow was greater. The plant stopped working in 1975, but it is set in motion during visits and events.

Highlights

Last fulling mill still operating in Sardinia
Downy oak hammers driven by a water wheel
Water mill for grinding wheat
Traditional processing of orbace
Guided visits during Autunno in Barbagia, with shuttle service