Miniera d'Oro della Guia

Useful Information

Location:	A26 Genova-Gravellona (E62) exit Piedimulera/ZI Valle Ossola. Follow SS549 into Ossola valley, after 25 km turn left at Borca.
Open:	27-DEC to 06-JAN daily tours at 10, 11:30, 14, 15:30. JUN Tue-Sun tours at 10, 11:30, 14, 15:30, 17:30. JUL to AUG daily 9-11:30, 14-17:30, tours by demand. SEP Mon-Tue, Thu-Sun tours at 10, 11:30, 14, 15:30, 17:30. [2018]
Fee:	Adults EUR 6, Children (6-13) EUR 5, Children (0-5) free. Groups (20+): discounts. [2018]
Classification:	Gold Mine
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	L=12 km, T=9 °C, H=97%.
Guided tours:	L=1,600 m, D=45 min.
Photography:	not allowed
Accessibility:	wheelchair accessible
Bibliography:
Address:	Miniera d'Oro della Guia, Loc. Guia, di Frazione Fornarelli, 1, 28876 Macugnaga VB, Tel: +39-340-395-3869. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1710	gold discovered, mine opened.
1961	mine closed.

Geology

Description

The Miniera d'Oro della Guia (Gold Mine of Guia) is located inside the Monte Rosa (4,634 m asl). The mine has a size of 12 km and 11 levels. The three levels below the show mine are flooded and not accessible any more. The show mine uses an adit, which is completely flat for obvious reasons, so it is wheelchair accessible. Some 800 m of the adit were cleaned for the show mine. The tour enters the mine through this tunnel and returns the same way.

The heydays of the mine were between the two World Wars, between 1937 and 1945. In 1942 40,000 tonnes of ore were mined which equalled 408 kg of gold. In 1948 the production was 580 kg of gold. But the mining technology was old and inefficient, and after some years of decline the mine was finally closed in 1961.

The show mine is open only for a short time in Summer. According to the facebook page the given dates seem to be reduced now and then, so the mine typically opens in mid June and closes mid September. Also the tours take place only with a minimum of three participants. The mine tour is not very expensive, but the mine is not as informative as the other mines in the area. Their tours are centered on dwarfs and the draw of gold, and while they are wheelchair accessible, the mine is also quite dull, if you read some comments on the web. The official webpage is devoid of any useful information, not even open hours or entrance fee given, no history and no geology. That's sometimes a bad sign, that you will not hear any useful information about the mine on your tour. And it seems they are not very accurate with the few facts they give, the mine was closed in 1961, not in 1945 as their website tells. So we must unfortunately recommend visiting one of the numerous other show mines in Piemont and Lombardy instead, which are operated by a non-profit organization of mining enthusiasts. If you want to see a gold mine we recommend the Mine Miniera d'Oro di Sessa on the Swiss side of the lake.