THE LA GRASTA MINE
We have news of the La Grasta mine since mid-1800: until the ’30s of 1900, the solfara has been mined with the archaic method of the “archi, colonne e pasture” , exploiting the labour of the carusi who carried on their backs the mineral from the bowels of the earth to the surface. After WWII, a sloping skid was built for the transport of the sulphur thanks to a winch driven by an electric motor. Moreover, an enrichment plant formed by three calcaroni was installed. In the ’60s the mine was reopened and renovated with structures introduced by the E.M.S., which was granted the management, in order to find a job for redundant workers. The La Grasta underground tunnels were abandoned only in 1987, and all entrances were closed at the end of the ’90s with the ritombamento method. Today, the mine area is fenced and equipped with an entrance gate with concierge. At archaeological level, La Gresta has nothing particularly interesting since the surface and underground systems are rather modern.
