Miniere dei Resinelli


Useful Information

Location: From Lecco follow SP62 north to Ballabio. Turn left at the roundabout, through Ballabio and Foppa to the Piani dei Resinell.
Open: MAR to mid-JUL Sun, Hol 10:30, 14:30, 16.
Mid-JUL to AUG Mon-Sat 14:30, 16, Sun, Hol 10:30, 14:30, 16.
SEP to OCT Sun, Hol 10:30, 14:30, 16.
[2018]
Fee: Adults EUR 9.50, Children (6-12) EUR 6.50, Children (3-5) free, Children (0-2) not allowed.
Groups: Adults EUR 6.50.
[2018]
Classification: MineLead Mine
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension: T=10 °C.
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility: Anna mine: yes.
Others: no.
Bibliography:
Address: Miniere dei Resinelli, Via Escursionisti, 23821 Piani Resinelli LC, Tel: +39-338-9609824. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1637 first written mention of the mines.
1958 Anna mine closed.
AUG-2002 opened to the public.

Geology


Description

The Miniere dei Resinelli is located in the Resinelli plains, both named after the family who owned the area long ago. The mines here were opened during the Renaissance and closed in the middle of the 20th century. There are currently three mines which can be visited.

The Miniera Anna (Anna mine) offers a really easy tour which is suitable for children, seniors, or disabled. The tunnel is almost horizontal and there are no steps.

The Miniera Sottocavallo has seven levels, accessed by a central shaft. It was used to mine galena, lead sulfide, which is a lead ore. Because of the dangerous shaft this mine tour is not allowed for children under the age of 13 and unaccompanied minors.

The Miniera Silvia is actually a single chamber. It is not used for tours but for various concerts.

The mining during the renaissance was unorganised. The miners were working manually, as a sort of lessee. The brought back the ore and could keep some percentage of what they mined. It was then up to them to sell it and make money or exchange it for food to feed the family. The equipment was their responsibility too, there was no organisation to purchase machinery which was used by all. And the mining was a seasonal job, the farmers were doing it during winter, when there was no work to do on the farm. Another reason for working in winter was the groundwater. While the surface was frozen no water entered the mine, and it was possible to work. With spring the melting water made work in the mine impossible as the dust turned into mud.

This show mine is operated by the Miniere Turistiche del Lago di Como. This is a group of mine guides who operate the parco minerario Piani Resinelli and the parco minerario Cortabbio di Primaluna. Because they are both located near Lecce and close to the Lago do Como, the group is named after the lake.