Museo della centrale idroelettrica di Serso

About the museum

The museum is housed in the hydroelectric power station of Serso, a hamlet of Pergine Valsugana, which still produces electricity today. Here, in 1893, the first three-phase alternating-current hydroelectric plant of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was built, at the wish of the municipal administration and on the initiative of eight citizens. The electricity, which replaced oil lamps, brought light into homes and streets and powered local workshops and industries.

The plant uses the waters of the Rio Nero, which descend from Montagnaga di Piné and flow into the Fersina: a penstock carries the water from a dam upstream, which creates a reservoir of about six thousand cubic metres, down to the power station, with a head of about 188 metres. At the start the output was about 100 horsepower; after later upgrades it reached about 176 kilowatts.

The museum was opened in 1998 on the initiative of the Comune di Pergine and the municipal company. In a reconstructed setting it presents machines and instruments, such as the turbine-alternator unit and the measurement, control and protection instrumentation, together with a collection of images and documents on the construction of the plant.

Highlights

• Turbine-alternator unit of the power station
• Measurement, control and protection instrumentation
• Images and documents on the construction of the plant
• First three-phase plant of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, still in operation

Permanent exhibition

• Museo della centrale idroelettrica – Display of machines and instruments of the power station, including the turbine-alternator unit, in a reconstructed setting, with images and documents on its construction.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Comune di Pergine Valsugana (visite guidate a cura di AmAmbiente S.p.A.)

Visitors per year

approx. 50

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Parking is possible in the inner courtyard. The accessibility listing (survey by the Cooperativa HandiCREA) gives the data for the ramp in front of the entrance.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The power station is located at Serso, a hamlet of Pergine Valsugana; parking is possible in the inner courtyard.

Amenities & 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