Bologna Industrial Heritage Museum
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Industrial Heritage Museum Photos
About Industrial Heritage Museum
This museum is held in the former brickworks of Galotti at ‘Battiferro’ and dates back to the 19th century. It deals with the productive and economic history of Bologna from the modern to the contemporary age. Situated next to the Naville Canal, this museum was built over an original kiln – in fact, the restored kiln has been turned into part of the museum.
Celeste Galotti – an entrepreneur from Imola – came to Bologna in 1887 and built the Galotti Brickworks here. His company grew beyond Italy’s borders because this site employed the most modern and efficient machinery in Italy.
In 1980 the Galotti company donated ‘Battiferro’ to the city of Bologna with the intentions that the whole complex which included the kilns, nearby waste ground and other parts of the plant be restored for social and cultural uses. Thus, between 1984-1992 work was carried out to transform it into the museum and educational treasure it is today.
On the ground floor here is the Hoffmann Kiln named after the German engineer Friedrich Hoffmann. This is where the bricks and tiles were fired in a continuous cycle. Some of these sample bricks and tiles are displayed alongside machines. Models of the kiln also tell the story of this complex although only in Italian – there are English texts available though.
Among the historic collections to be seen here are automatic electrical and mechanical machines for packing, measuring and wrapping. It must be remembered that these machines are witness to a great technological stride and also bear witness to Bologna’s involvement being the centre for this industrial development.
On the walls are the occasional black and white photograph which call to mind those days when this plant would have seen a hive of activity going on around the clock.
The first floor here is an open hall, actually built on top of the Hoffmann Kiln. Just inside the entrance are these printing machines. It’s also used as an exhibition room, laboratory space for school activities and an auditorium for conferences, meetings and conventions.
In the past this floor would have where the ‘stokers’ worked. They shoveled coal dust into fuel ducts directed down on to the ovens for firing the bricks. Many of these holes can still be seen from the ground floor. Some of them are even used to project pictures onto screens with the help of mirrors.
Around the building are still more reminders of the industrial past in this area: chimneys and large machines lie dormant like the caucuses of ancient dinosaurs.
This is the second floor which is also a hall and deals with five centuries of history throughout the industrial sector.
The first few stands deal with the silk trade. One of the most precious exhibits is this large working model of the Bologna silk mill. It’s unique throughout Europe not only for its attention to detail but also as a true witness to local heritage and past industrial successes.
Moving into the hall now is this open space which was used as a drying room. Bricks and tiles would have been placed on wooden shelves to dry naturally before they were then fired in the kiln down below.
Due to the high growth of industry around Bologna towards the end of the 19th century this boom inevitably led to a population spurt as well as a stronger economy in the long term. For this reason then, the wealth that was created was in turn pumped back into more technological innovations.
This room now displays that heritage in the form of the Aldini-Valeriani nucleus. On display are original machines, engines and models. They were produced by local and European craftsmen of their times, such as: Bate, Salleron, Clair, Lenoir, Dall’Aqua and Breguet.
Probably the most popular at the moment are the car and motorbike displays. However, it must be noted that these often change and are only on loan from collectors.
Not only are machines on display but tools and equipment workers used. In fact, these may also show another important tribute to those who worked by hand before machines were deployed across the factory floor eventually making way for efficient technology rather than a slow, methodical workforce.
Finally, these last remaining exhibits are evidence to one of Bologna’s other well known characteristics: food. Sausages, pasta and ice-cream would have been produced from these machines. It’s therefore no surprise to learn then that Bologna still has one of the strongest export markets for producing technology that one day will also serve historic purposes just as this museum does in these modern times.
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