The Renaissance tower celebrating iron merchants
The Ferrerio Tower dominates the rooftops of the village of Piedimulera, rising near the 'mulera', an ancient road leading to the Anzasca Valley, its gold mines and the Moro Pass.
The structure, with elegant Renaissance forms, has a rectangular floor plan and rises five storeys to a total of 30 metres. It is crowned by a characteristic cusp roof, covered with beola and with pinnacles holding crosses on the four corners and on the vertex.
Inside, the top floor preserves an interesting pictorial decoration with profane themes (hunting, banquet and mythological scenes) from the 16th century. There is also an inscription here dating the construction between 1594 and 1597.
It was promoted by the Ferreri family, wealthy iron entrepreneurs, and was used as a customs point for collecting duties, authorised in 1598 by the feudal lord Renato Borromeo. It retained this function until 1768, when the duty was abolished by the Savoy government. It was later used as a warehouse. After years of neglect, it was acquired on loan by the Piedimulera municipality for cultural and exhibition purposes and houses the Lithoteca mineralogical museum.
Clearly visible to those who take the road by car or the old mule track on foot to climb up the Anzasca Valley. The interior can be visited in conjunction with the opening of the Lithoteca museum or on request.
© Susy Mezzanotte
