Maglio Museo
Former water-powered trip hammer on the Nossa river, converted into a museum, with iron tools, models of water-powered air blowers and photographs of the maèr.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Maglio Museo is in Ponte Nossa, in the Val Seriana, along the short but water-rich Nossa river. Here, in a pre-industrial activity linked to the iron deposits of the nearby valleys of Scalve and Bondione, several water-powered trip hammers worked. The first written sources date from the 16th century, but metalworking in the area is most probably much older. Iron arrived as cast iron, steel or bars and was beaten to make nails, spades, hoes, shovels and other tools for building and agriculture.
The museum occupies the so-called Maglio Minore or Beltrami, which remained in operation until 1964. After a period of neglect it was converted into a museum by the municipal administration in 1984. The Associazione Magli Nossa looks after it and promotes it together with the trip-hammer area. In 2018 maintenance work was carried out, replacing the two water wheels that drive the hammer and the grindstone.
The plant runs on water, which turns large wooden wheels and lifts the hammer. The water also drove the air blower that supplied the forges. The museum holds tools made in the trip hammers, models of water-powered air blowers and period photographs of the maèr, the master forgers, at work.
Highlights
- Water-powered trip hammer with working water wheels
- Iron tools made in the trip hammers: shovels, hoes, spades, pliers, nails
- Models of water-powered air blowers
- Period photographs of the maèr at work
- Guided visit with iron beating and the forging of a nail
Permanent exhibition
- Maglio Museo – Water-powered trip hammer with tools made in the hammers, models of air blowers and period photographs of the master forgers.
- Founded
- 1984
- Operated by
- Comune di Ponte Nossa; Associazione Magli Nossa
- Visitors per year
- approx. 2,000
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
By public transit
SAB line bus to Clusone; from Ponte Nossa follow the signs to the Maglio Museo.
By car
Parking available
Parking near the town hall. Coach groups can stop on the square in front of the former GE.TE.CA. cotton mill.
By car from Bergamo follow the signs for Clusone and the Val Seriana (about 27 km). From the square of the former cotton mill, cross the ancient Ponte di San Bernardino on foot to reach the museum.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The guided visit explains the environment and history, the parts of the structure and of the trip hammer, with the beating of a piece of iron and the forging of a nail, and uses wooden models. The ideal group for schools is 20–25 pupils. Nearby you can see the springs of the Nossa river and the fish-farming tanks. |
