Gleno Exposition
In the center of the village of Vilminore di Scalve, a space that tells the story of the construction, the tragedy, and the significance of the Gleno Dam
The Gleno Exhibition Space was established in memory of the tragedy of the Gleno Dam, which occurred on December 1, 1923, and deeply affected the entire Val di Scalve.
Nearly a century has passed since the dam collapsed, yet throughout these years it has remained a constant presence for the communities of the Val di Scalve, both in reality and in memory. Although the disaster belongs to the past, the physical presence of the dam’s ruins continues to carry meaning even today.
The small museum is set up in a simple and essential way, yet it is extremely effective in conveying the memory of such a tragedy. The space is housed in a historic building in Vilminore, which once also served as the studio and shop of the photographer Stefano Magri (some of whose photographs can be seen inside).
At the Gleno Exhibition Space, visitors can consult photographic materials (both archival and newly produced), historical documents (newspapers), and first-hand accounts from witnesses of the time.
We invite you to visit the new online portal where we have collected all existing materials related to the Gleno Dam: Gleno – A Community of Heritage
The creation of the Gleno Exhibition Space represents a further step in enhancing and bringing life to the valley, particularly the area of Vilminore, also in view of the centenary of the collapse.
Acknowledgements:
The project, coordinated by Pro Loco Vilminore and the Manara Valgimigli Municipal Library, was completed in 2018 with the support of the Municipality, the Scalve Mountain Community, and co-financing from Regione Lombardia.
In July 2019, the Tagliaferri Carpentry Workshop, based in Vilminore (Roccolo – Pezzolo area), built all the wooden interior cladding of the Exhibition Space free of charge. You can visit their Facebook page here.
Pro Loco Vilminore would like to thank Ms. Gianfranca Capitanio for granting the use of the premises hosting the exhibition.
Thanks also go to: Loris Bendotti (Pro Loco council member and anthropologist) for his collaboration and project development; Agostino Morandi and Gianmario Bendotti for their availability as guides; the students of the Vilminore secondary school and their teacher Patrizia Bendotti for translating the documents into English; Maria Grazia Bonicelli for promoting the initiative; architect Ivano Mancini for his valuable contribution; and all the many volunteers who made the exhibition possible.
Finally, special thanks to the Tagliaferri Carpentry Workshop for providing the wooden paneling free of charge.
Opening hours:
The Gleno Exhibition Space is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Admission is free; visitors may leave a voluntary donation to support future projects of Pro Loco Vilminore.
