Museo della Miniera Massa Marittima

Mining Museum Massa Marittima


Useful Information

Location: Via Filippo Corridoni, Massa Marittima.
(43.048500, 10.888500)
Open: JAN to MAR Fri-Sun 11, 12, 15, 16.
APR to JUN Tue-Sun 11, 12, 15, 16.
JUL to AUG daily 11, 12, 15, 16, 17.
SEP Tue-Sun Tue-Sun 11, 12, 15, 16.
OCT to DEC Fri-Sun 11, 12, 15, 16.
Christmas holidays daily 11, 12, 15, 16.
Closed 25-DEC, 01-JAN.
[2022]
Fee: Adults EUR 6, Children (6-18) EUR 4, Children (0-5) free, Seniors (65+) EUR 4, Disabled free.
Groups (20+): Adults EUR 4.
[2022]
Classification: MineSilver Mine MineCopper Mine SubterraneaWorld War II Bunker
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension: T=12 °C.
Guided tours: L=700 m.
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:
Address: Museo della Miniera, Via Filippo Corridoni, Massa Marittima, Tel: 0566-902289, Fax: 0566-901808. E-mail: contact
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

1980 Museum of Mining established.
1984 Miniera di Niccioleta closed.

Geology

The hills around Massa Marittima contain veins of varying thickness. They contain a wide variety of minerals, including manganese, amphibole, silver, copper and zinc, considerable quantities of iron, silver-lead ore and mercury sulfates. Mindat.org lists 88 different minerals in the area. The ores were mined in numerous mines.

Description

The Museo della Miniera Massa Marittima (Mining Museum Massa Marittima) consists of a series of underground tunnels equipped like a real mine. It shows an exhibition of instruments and machinery, and a rich collection of minerals and ores from the surrounding mining area. The location is an old travertine quarry, the three tunnels were transformed into an air raid shelter during World War II. In 1980, it was transformed into a mining museum.

The tunnels show three different types of framework supporting the ceiling, a classic wooden structure, a metal mesh fixed with steel roof bolts and a brick lining. There are examples of various mining techniques like gob cultivation and roof fall. Miners work tools of the 20th century include hand drills, compressors, and rotary drill bits. Mining trains with electric locomotives and wagons are also shown. Other stations are the wood depot, the overseer's cabin, the manways, and the risers. The third tunnel contains the mineral exhibition.

The area around Massa Marittima, the northern part of the Maremma, is called Colline Metallifere (literally metalliferous hills). Massa Marittima was sometimes called Massa Metallorum. In the 19th century its wealth was described by the historian and naturalist Emanuele Repetti.