European Days of Historic Mills at Sapignoli Mill

A weekend between water wheels and peasant memory

The European Days of Historic Mills arrive every year in Poggio Torriana too, in the heart of the Uso Valley in the province of Rimini, where the Sapignoli Mill Museum opens its doors for a weekend entirely dedicated to milling heritage. The event, promoted nationally by AIAMS — Italian Association of Friends of Historic Mills, transforms the ancient water mill into a meeting place for history, culture, and Romagnolo popular tradition.

The Sapignoli Mill, gateway to the Via dei Mulini

The museum is considered the entrance to the Via dei Mulini of the Valmarecchia: it tells the story of the work and ingenuity of milling arts through the millstones, gears, and tools of the trade. During the European Days, guided tours take the public to discover how the mill works, with practical demonstrations of grinding techniques and the hydraulic system that for centuries animated the life of the villages along the Uso river.

Culture, books, and local flavors

The program combines different moments: presentations of books dedicated to the history of watermills and the territory, tastings of local wines, the traditional zirudèle — rhyming compositions in the Romagnolo dialect — and art trails that combine creativity and movement. There are also meetings with scholars and storytellers who talk about the Uso valley, its history, and its identity.

A widespread and cross-border event

The event has a strong territorial and cross-border vocation: over the years, the Sapignoli Mill has established links with the historic mills of the nearby Republic of San Marino, in a cultural dialogue that crosses borders. The initiative is part of the cultural program of the Municipality of Poggio Torriana and the Emilia-Romagna region, where the culture of mills and peasant civilization remains a living and deeply felt root.