Galli Furnace
Galli Furnace: where clay tells the story of the Sanagra Valley
In the heart of the Sanagra Valley, the Galli Furnace is a journey through time, where the artisanal clay tradition comes to life between nature and industrial memory.
What to see
Places to visit
The Galli Furnace is perhaps the most prominent, and certainly the best preserved, example of pre-industrial archaeology in the Sanagra Valley area.
Exploitation of natural resources has always been a vital necessity for the valley's inhabitants, and the river current was the main source of energy.
The origins of the Galli Furnace date back to the 17th century, when the entire life of the town revolved around the productive activity of mills. At that time the property belonged to the Guaita family.
In the early nineteenth century it initially switched to Gilardi and Colombi, only to be acquired by the family Camozzi, originally from Como. In 1846 Camozzi himself sold the manufactory to James Guaita, who maintained it for a number of years.
A few years later, in 1858, the complex was purchased by Francis Selva, a resident of Menaggio but a landowner in Grandola.
In 1875, the kiln finally passed to a family originally from Val Colla, Switzerland: the Roosters, from which the present name is derived.
The kiln became a major production center: many buildings in neighboring-and even more distant areas-were constructed using the bricks produced in the Sanagra Valley.
The business ceased a few years after the end of World War II, when the industrial development of the Peninsula, particularly nearby Brianza, favored the emergence of new competitors with technical and logistical advantages that were difficult to overcome.
Thus ended a long productive history that had deeply marked the economy and identity of the area.
Virtual tour of the Galli Furnace
Walking with Davide Van De Sfroos
Guided Tours of the Galli Furnace
After careful restoration, the Galli Furnace came back to life as museum and educational space.
By visiting it, you can get an up-close look at how an authentic brick factory was organized in the late 19th century, where clay was transformed into artifacts through fire, sweat and the skill of the kiln workers.
The Furnace is Open to the public and can be visited from April to September.
Book our spaces
Book the exclusive spaces of the Galli Furnace for your event, a unique location nestled in the picturesque setting of the Sanagra Valley, where unspoiled nature and historical memory meet.
Take a look at the rules, fill out the application form and contact us by email: [email protected]
