Museo Mulino Sapignoli

About the museum

The Museo Mulino Sapignoli, in the municipality of Poggio Torriana (formerly Poggio Berni), showcases the ethnographic heritage of milling in the Valmarecchia. It opened in 2009 in the former water mill and tells the story of the relationship between environment, work and identity: the mill was an economic hub of the area, halfway between rural life and craftsmanship, where water power became mechanical energy and the miller, who lived on site, was central to the cycle of grain and bread.

The route explains the milling process: the grain poured into the hopper ran down the chute to the millstones, whose distance had to be adjusted with great precision, while worn stones had to be re-dressed with special small hammers. The Valmarecchia had 165 mills, spread across mountain, hill and plain; in Poggio Berni alone five were concentrated, already mentioned in the Capitoli dei Molinari della fossa Viserba of 1588, among them the Mulino del Palazzo, later Mulino Sapignoli.

On the first floor, in the miller’s former apartment, is the municipal library “Pio Campidelli”. The museum is part of MUDIC, the Museo diffuso delle Comunità (dispersed community museum) of Poggio Torriana, and is run by the association “Gli Amici del Mulino Sapignoli”, which organises special openings, guided tours and events.

Highlights

• Water-mill machinery and the milling process explained
• The five historic mills of Poggio Berni and the 165 of the Valmarecchia
• Municipal library in the former miller’s apartment
• Special openings and guided tours by the Amici del Mulino association
• Part of the MUDIC dispersed museum

Permanent exhibition

• L’arte molitoria in Valmarecchia – How the water mill works, the miller’s work and the history of the mills of the valley.

Founded

2009

Operated by

Comune di Poggio Torriana

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Visiting the museum without a guide is free of charge; the guided tour is paid. Accompanying adults of school and social groups, ICOM members and holders of the Romagna Visit Card also get in free.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Visits for schools are available, and a family combined ticket is offered for guided tours.

Getting there & parking

By car: A14 motorway, Rimini Nord exit, then follow the signs for Santarcangelo di Romagna and Poggio Torriana.

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