Colombiera-Molicciara: Church History, Mining and Landscape

Church History and Local Influences

Colombiera-Molicciara can be understood through several themes that are important to the perception of the place: local church history, the influence of lignite mining, and the landscape of a plain crossed by watercourses. This gives you a varied perspective on the surrounding area. The combination is interesting for an individual trip to Italy if you would like to consider cultural history together with the landscape rather than separately.

Sacro Cuore and the Development of the Parish

The Sacro Cuore area in Molicciara became an independent curacy on June 18, 1937, and was elevated to a parish on February 11, 1939. The Sacro Cuore church and the rectory in Molicciara were built by the first parish priest, Father Mario Andolfatto. On June 1, 1953, the parish of Molicciara was elevated to a provostry. This chronological sequence gives you a clear introduction to Molicciara's ecclesiastical development and to the people and buildings connected with it.

The Biblioteca Civica “Michele Ferrari” is also important for your practical orientation: it is fully accessible to people with disabilities. If you pay attention to accessible points of interest when planning your trip, this specific feature is among the information you can take into account when putting together your activities.

Mining History Between Colombiera and Molicciara

Colombiera and Molicciara developed around facilities for extracting lignite. Several lignite shafts and associated operational buildings were concentrated between Colombiera and Molicciara. At that time, Molicciara was known by the place name “La Miniera.” Those interested in a place's economic past will therefore find an independent historical focus here that extends beyond individual buildings.

A Santa Barbara memorial ceremony is also held in remembrance of the miners. It included a visit from the stele in Colombiera dedicated to the miners who died in workplace accidents to Pozzo No. 1 near Piazza 1° Maggio. The memorial ceremony connects the history of lignite mining with a specific expression of local remembrance.

Plain, Torrente Bettigna and Canale Lunense

The plain in which the Molicciara district is located is crossed by the Torrente Bettigna. This plain also contains a section of the Canale Lunense, a water-management facility built for irrigation purposes in the 19th century. A natural watercourse and a historic irrigation structure thus come together within a closely connected thematic area. If you would like to get to know a landscape attentively through its natural and human-influenced elements, this combination offers a comprehensible approach to finding your bearings on site.

Cultural Dates and Venues

The cultural side of Colombiera-Molicciara includes various event formats in addition to sacred and mining-related themes. The event “Festa nell'aia, Festa dei nuovi nati” took place on Sunday, September 17, from 4 p.m. in the green area of the Centro sociale di Molicciara and offered creative play workshops as well as musical performances for children and adults. In addition, a series of theatrical performances was scheduled for the evenings of June 17, 18, 22 and 23 in the open-air theater arena of the Centro Sociale Comunale di Colombiera. Both examples add communal and theatrical occasions to the character of the place.

Further Places for Trip Planning

If you would like to extend your orientation to other destinations, you will find Zignago, Marinella Di Sarzana, Levanto, Pegui, Rio, Tirolo, Sesta Godano and Bovecchio here.

For the higher-level travel overview: La Spezia.