HAPPY ENDING FOR THE GUALCHIERE DI REMOLE

After a long process that saw associations, administrations, intellectuals, and the local community involved, Eugenio Giani, President of the Tuscany Region, has allocated 3 million euros to complete the restoration of the Gualchiere di Remole. The complex, dating back to the 14th century, is of great historical, cultural, and environmental importance because it generated Florence’s wealth through the processing of wool and grain using the sustainable energy of water. It is a true productive and environmental machine whose characteristics were studied and praised even by Leonardo da Vinci. The Gualchiere are owned by the Municipality of Florence, but are located within the municipal territory of the city of Bagno a Ripoli, which has therefore always been interested in their preservation. Despite the constant interest of scholars and intellectuals, after years of abandonment the Municipality of Florence had decided to sell the site. The Municipal Administration of Bagno a Ripoli, with then-Mayor Luciano Bartolini, worked to find a solution so that the destination of the Gualchiere would be at least partly museum-related and public, in line with the strong sense of identity the local population felt towards this monument. IPOGEA supported the Municipality of Bagno a Ripoli in this process and, by involving the Nobrega Foundation linked to the cultural activity of the current King Charles III of England, founded ITKI (International Traditional Knowledge Institute) for the safeguarding of ancient practices and monuments. In 2009, on the occasion of a conference in Florence, IPOGEA, UNESCO, the Municipality of Bagno a Ripoli, the Municipality of Florence, and other associations signed an agreement for the promotion of ITKI and the safeguarding of the Gualchiere.

The recent history of the Gualchiere di Remole begins on June 26, 2017, when the Circolo Vie Nuove organized an assembly together with the Municipality of Bagno a Ripoli to oppose the sale of the complex. The association Italia Nostra even went so far as to present a symbolic offer of one euro as a sign of protest against the sale.

From there, a dialogue with institutions began: on July 12 and November 12, 2018, the first meetings were held at Palazzo Vecchio with Councillor Gianassi and Mayor Casini, which led to the abandonment of the sale, officially announced on March 3, 2019, in an article in La Nazione. Shortly after, at a public meeting, the establishment of a technical group was announced, composed of former Mayor of Bagno a Ripoli Luciano Bartolini, Pietro Laureano, Gabriele Danesi for the Municipality of Bagno a Ripoli, and Annalisa Baratti. The group was coordinated, for the Municipality of Florence, by the cultural heritage officer Giorgio Caselli, active from May 2019. In December 2019, the City Council launched a process of valorization through concession of use, while in 2020 the agreement with the Consorzio di Bonifica was renewed and architect Andrea Meli was tasked with the external landscaping. Between 2020 and 2021, the first safety works began, though slowed down by the pandemic.
On June 23, 2022, the visit of Elizabeth Nobrega Tsakirogloiu, president of the Maria Nobrega Foundation and ITKI, confirmed the Foundation’s interest—also on behalf of the then Prince Charles—in supporting the multifunctional project with funds, scholarships, and the donation of the Carrington collection.

Chronology of the Gualchiere di Remole case (2007–2025)

• 2007
  The Mayor of Bagno a Ripoli, Luciano Bartolini, urged IPOGEA, a company founded by Pietro Laureano within the framework of UNESCO inscription and the recovery of the City of Matera, to launch an initiative for the recovery of the Gualchiere in Florence.
• 2008
  IPOGEA and the Nobrega Foundation, which participates in the patronage initiatives of Charles of England, launched an initiative with the Municipality of Florence for the safeguarding of the Gualchiere.
• 2009
  The first signs of institutional resolution: the Municipality of Florence and the Municipality of Bagno a Ripoli signed a memorandum of understanding for the enhancement of the Gualchiere.
  This marked the idea of a possible shared recovery, though still without a concrete strategy.
• 2010
  Under the auspices of the Tuscany Region, the Municipality of Florence, and UNESCO, ITKI (International Traditional Knowledge Institute) was created, with IPOGEA, the Nobrega Foundation, and the Municipality of Bagno a Ripoli among its founding members. During the international conference held in Florence, a visit to the Gualchiere was organized. The hypothesis was the creation of a UNESCO center on traditional knowledge based at the Gualchiere in Florence.
• 2012
  The Municipality of Florence, owner of the complex, deemed the hypothesis of a UNESCO institute in Florence no longer feasible and included the Gualchiere among the assets to be sold through alienation procedures.
  This choice was immediately opposed by associations, scholars, and citizens.

• 2013-2016
  Several public auctions were called to sell the property, all of which failed.
  At the same time, civic and cultural initiatives grew to oppose privatization and push for a public recovery project.
• 2017
  Prompted by IPOGEA, ITKI, and the Nobrega Foundation, Prince Charles of England, during a visit to Florence, communicated his interest in safeguarding the Gualchiere to the Mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella. The latter replied in a letter expressing his complete agreement.

• June 26, 2017
  On the eve of the expiry of a new auction notice, the Group for the Gualchiere di Remole of the Circolo Vie Nuove (promoted by the Municipality of Bagno a Ripoli, the Nobrega Foundation, IPOGEA, and ITKI) organized a public assembly to mobilize citizens.
  The association Italia Nostra submitted a symbolic offer of 1 euro as a gesture of protest against the sale..
• July 12, 2018
  First meeting at Palazzo Vecchio between the Vie Nuove Group, Florence Councillor Federico Gianassi, and the Mayor of Bagno a Ripoli, Francesco Casini.
  For the first time, a political dialogue opened on an alternative path to the sale.
• November 12, 2018
  Second institutional meeting at Palazzo Vecchio, consolidating the hypothesis of a participatory recovery project.
• March 3, 2019
  La Nazione published the article “The Gualchiere di Remole will no longer be sold”: the Municipality of Florence changed course and decided to abandon the sale.
• March 29, 2019
  Public meeting organized by Circolo Vie Nuove: confirmation of the decision to set up a technical working group for the recovery project.
• May 10, 2019
  Official start of the activities of the Technical Group, promoted by Luciano Bartolini, with representatives from the Municipality of Florence, Bagno a Ripoli, and the Vie Nuove Group. The working group was composed of former Mayor of Bagno a Ripoli Luciano Bartolini, Pietro Laureano, Gabriele Danesi for the Municipality of Bagno a Ripoli, and Annalisa Baratti, coordinated for the Municipality of Florence by cultural heritage officer Giorgio Caselli.
• September 2019
  The Working Group approved the feasibility project developed by IPOGEA for the recovery of the Gualchiere, included within the strategic vision of making the Arno navigable, creating a museum in the monumental part, using hydraulic energy, producing electricity to ensure sustainability of interventions, a database of traditional knowledge, an observatory on the Arno, and leisure spaces.
• December 23, 2019
  The Florence City Council resolved to launch a process of valorization through concession of use, to attract private investors and find resources for the restoration.
• 2020
  Renewed the agreement between the Municipality and the Consorzio di Bonifica for the maintenance of the riverbed and hydraulic works of the Gora di Remole.
  External landscape design assigned to architect Andrea Meli, under the direction of Giorgio Caselli.
• 2020-2021
  Safety works started with municipal funding of 40,000 euros, but slowed down by the Covid-19 pandemic.
  A progressive plan of conservation interventions was also prepared.
• June 23, 2022
  Official visit of the Maria Nobrega Foundation and ITKI, with president Elizabeth Nobrega Tsakirogloiu (also on behalf of H.R.H. Prince Charles).
  The Foundation supported the project and committed to contributing with funds, scholarships, and the donation of the Michael Carrington collection.
• June 2025
  The Municipality announced the completion of the first conservation restoration of the complex’s structures (roofs, walls, floors, seismic and geotechnical surveys), financed with 340,000 euros from the Tuscany Region.
• September 15, 2025
  Inspection by Regional President Eugenio Giani: announcement of a new allocation of 3 million euros in the 2026 budget for the creation of the Gualchiere Museum. Also envisaged is the possibility of a small hydroelectric plant to ensure the economic sustainability of the complex.