Last segment of the trip starting on Feb 6th (here)
The 11th and final day's trip, sadly came to an end today.
Since our flight's departure was due, only in the afternoon, on the way to Malpensa airport, we had enough time to visit, again, a special place from an era long gone.
Departing Bergamo Old Town
Panoramic Views on the way down
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Forty minutes drive from Beregamo
got us to Capriate San Gervasio the village next to where the Crespi D'dadda site is situated
Crespi D'adda Village
19th c Concept of the Company/Factory Towns On a trip from 2016 to Lake Como, we stopped briefly, at an Unesco World Heritage Site north of Bergamo, and on the way to Malpensa airport, named: "Crespi d'Adda" to which we returned today, for a more thorough exploration, as we were fascinated by it.
Being a valued historical site, representing an era long gone, the village and few buildings, that in normal times, are open for the incidental visitors, like ourselves who are fascinated, by its history and architecture, unfortunately were closed.
Very few people could be seen on site, yet we were delighted to visit it, again.
Crespi d'Adda Village/Town
The village is an outstanding example of the 19th- and early 20th-c "Company Towns'
built in Europe and North America by enlightened industrialists to meet their workers' needs, from birth to death..
Such a social concept of a capitalist merchant, was implemented in other locations.
On a trip in 2018 to Lodge Poland we visited a magnificent renovated 19c series Red Brick mills factories – all producing various textile,
That property was of Izrael Poznański, (1833– 1900) a Jewish Textile Magnet, and it turned into and is used as shopping mall complex, now a days
Crespi d'Adda - A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995
The year was - 1869, the Italian industrialist - Mr. Crespi, the product - of a cotton mill.
The site, long sold to many private hands, is still remarkably intact and is partly used for industrial purposes, although changing economic and social conditions now threaten its survival.
The village's attractive Housing
This industrial village was founded in 1878 by the Italian Textile industrialist named:
Christoforo Beningo Crespi It was completed at the end of 1930th
The village remains as it was at the beginning of the 20th c
It is situated at the end of a small valley, where the Brembo river flows into the Adde and had supplied the hydraulic power for the textile factory.
The symmetrically designed layout of village, along the main road was completed in a period of 15 years (c. 1890-1905), by the architect Ernesto Pirovano.
An entire town developed around the Crespi textile factory, comprising the owners' houses, different types of Housing for the workers, a Wash House, a School, a Theatre, and a church all,situated across and facing the Textile Factory, as well as a Cemetery.
In addition to the Cemetery which is located at the end of the access road, the Crespi
Family Mansion, though very close, is the only structure outside the greed, overlooking the factory.
The Crespi's Family Mansion- Castle Neo-medieval designed castle, with a tower and spire, a popular example, back in the 1800ts. was a design of the architect Ernesto Pirovano (1866-1934) .
Constructed between 1893-1894. in 3 levels the grand building, predominant material was Red Bricks also used throughout the village
From 1894 -1930 the Crespi family had used the castle as their residence during the summer and part of autumn .
The castle offers 360 degrees panoramic views from its tower.
The Factory
The elongated structure designed to accommodate a single engine that distributed energy, is situated at the west side of the village, parallel to the Adda river and across from the Church building. Inaugurated in 1878 it expanded along with the residential area.The first worker residence appeared in 1886.
In 1889 Christofor's Son- Silvio Crespi became a Manager of the Cotton Mill The village's fortune depended solely on the factory.
The workers lives were, closely linked, with the capitalist owner - Crespi family who provided social services and assistance, that compensated for the rigid, both inside and outside the factory's feudal structure of the 20th .(more)
With various peaks and lows, the business and village thrived until the end of the 20th, but political changes and new market trends, some poor investments and the 1929 economic crisis brought the Crespi family, on the verge of collapse
The Crespi family sold the village in 1930s, and despite other mangers who took over the village, changes and opportunities altered the social and economic fabric of the village and in 2003 the factory closed
The ownership of the various properties is divided among public (municipal), religious (Roman Catholic Church - Curia of Bergamo) and individual or private.
In 2013 the entrepreneur Antonio Percassi purchased the factory as a site for a new business. in order to convert into the headquarters for the Percassi Business group as well as the headquarters for the new Antonio Percassi Family Foundation.
The private owner has indicated his intention to reallocate work in the factory, related to the services sector and, at the same time, to improve cultural and touristic activities in the village
The School
Constructed in 1890 the impressive village's service the 2 stories structure, operated from 1891. From the top of a large stairway panoramic view of the village is offered
Teachers were housed in the building's upper level, while the other floor was used for pre-school and elementary class-rooms
The Theater at the Back of the school
Sited 100 people, and staged many types of productions. In 1922 a Cinima was added a true thrilling entertainment for the laborers.
The Village Church
Cemetery and Mausoleum
Constructed in 1896 and situated at the end of a long road which leads down to the village, is is bordered by an elegant wall and gate in a library style
The place were final rest to the life of self- contained Universe came to an end.
The Crespi's family tomb is part of the main structure and stands out.
The impressive Mausoleum divides the land into 2 large perfectly ordered large plots, with graves marked by photos, and dates on birth and death
The access to the road to and cemetery belongs to the municipality but the Crespi family still owns the mausoleum
The Hydraulic System on the Adde river which provided energy to the mills
More workers housing
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An hour drive from Crespi D'dadda got us on time to Malpensa airport on the north side of Milan.
Life beside the Corona means the airport was busy, and the plane was completely full. 3.5 hours later, we landed safely back in Israel, leaving the terminal with the luggage, and after passport control and Corona testing in a record time.
Flying out of Italy , leaving the Mountain's white peaks, lakes and towns behind
Magic is over
The End
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