IL PATRIMONIO CULTURALE DELLA TRADIZIONE MINERARIA E SIDERURGICA DELLA VALLE TROMPIA: STORIA E VALORIZZAZIONE The Cultural Heritage of the Mining and Steelworking Tradition of the Trompia Valley: History and Promotion

The economic history of the Trompia Valley (Province of Brescia, Italy) has been mainly characterized by metallurgy, which has played a significant role in the region’s economic development over the years. The cultural heritage linked thereto mainly rests on the mines where mineral extraction took place, the furnaces where the metal was smelted, and the forges where the metal took shape. The cultural heritage associated with the mining and iron and steel-making traditions of the Trompia Valley should be examined with regard to its architectural history and the technological solutions adopted. The documentary research and understanding of the traces left behind by the decline of mines and factories should support both their comprehension and the performance of conservation activities while at the same time heeding their authenticity. In addition, the outcomes of ongoing valorization activities resulting from collaborative initiatives between public and private entities are illustrated.