The furnaces and the "fondaci"

Audioguide created in collaboration with the students of "A. Gussio" scuola secondaria di primo grado Sant'Alessio Siculo.

Narrated by Giulia Puglisi.

The hydraulic lime industry was very flourishing in Sant'Alessio in the early twentieth century.

The production was not limited to local use, but was also exported to other places both in Sicily and outside.

Long queues of carts were moving to carry lime in large iron bins, between the railway station and the furnaces, throughout the day.

Near Capo Sant'Alessio is still possible to admire their remains. The production also helped the growth of numerous taverns and "fondaci", which housed "carrettieri" and merchants.

They were rest stops, but also places for commercial exchanges. Today the memory of their names still endure in the names of places. The most renowned is "Fondaco Parrino", which is a building with a well, that was also remembered by Father Massa in 1709.