Old Pianetti Sawmill

The Antica Segheria Pianetti stands on the edge of the Brembo River, near the historic center of Olmo al Brembo and the old Priula Road. Originally the building was a mill for grinding grain: the river water powered the wooden wheels thanks to a conduit still visible today. Between 1853 and 1875 part of the business was converted into a sawmill, taking advantage of both the existing hydraulic system and the large outdoor space to stack timber: the river became a “transport route” for the logs.
This logging activity continued for over a century, until the 1970s, representing a source of livelihood for many inhabitants. At the beginning of the 20th century-in 1904-the building also housed a small hydroelectric power plant: thanks to this installation, Olmo al Brembo became the first municipality in the upper Brembana Valley, together with that of Piazzolo, to have public lighting.
With time and economic evolution, flour production was finally abandoned in 1914 in favor of the sawmill; later, in the 1940s, the property (the Pianetti family) handed over the management of electricity to an outside company, but retained the use of energy for the sawmill. Today the old building is no longer a workplace, but has found new life as the headquarters of the Alto Brembo area tourist office, Infopoint and cultural space.
Outside, some of the original machines and tools used for logging or milling can still be admired: remnants that testify to the area's industrial and rural past. The Antica Segheria Pianetti thus represents a link between history, community memory and cultural enhancement of the valley.