MUSEOS DE LA SEDA / SILK MUSEUMS

The construction of the “Filatoio Rosso” was authorized by Notary’s Deed dated Dec.8th, 1676 between the Caraglio Municipality and Gio’ Francesco Galleani (Caraglio historical archive, ms, vol. 266/1678) carried out in only two years (1676-1678) by Gio’ Francesco Galleani and his son Gia’ Gerolamo Galleani. In 1667 Gia’ Giacomo Galleani was appointed, by the Duke of Savoia Carlo Emanuele II°, Ducal Supervisor of the Silk Industry with the title of “Capo Cognitore nella Fabbrica et esercizio delle sete grezze e filate” and, in 1670, was encharged to supervise the construction of the Venaria Reale industrial complex (next to the royal palace) designed by the Ducal Architect Amedeo di Castellamonte. In 1813 the Silk Factory Galleani in Caraglio became property of a relative of the founder Count Giuseppe Galleani D’Agliano (who was also Viceroy in Sardegna). His son Pio, in 1857, left the building to mr. Cassin (banker). The Silk Factory, called “Filatoio Rosso di Caraglio” due to the colour of the walls, continued the silk production until the Second World War . After some ownership changes, it was finally bought by mr. Domenico Buzzi. In 1921 mr. Buzzi, toghether with ADSI (Italian Historical Homes Association) ask the Ministry of Cultural and Environmental Heritage (as per law n° 1089 dated June 1st, 1939) the emanation of the provisions for binding protection of the historical building “ Setificio di Caraglio o Filatoio Rosso”. In the meantime the owner appointed ADSI to prepare the preliminary and executive design for the restoration and reuse of the building. ADSI turns to the architects Calvi di Bergolo, Mellano e Toselli. By the Decree 31/1/1937 the Ministry of Cultural and Environmental Heritage recognizes the particulary important interest, in accordance to the law n° 1089 date June 1st , 1939,towards the building “Filatoio Rosso” and submit it to all the protective provisions foreseen in the above law. In Oct. 1996 the Supervision of Architecture and Environment of the Caraglio Community invite the owner to examine all the possibilities to safeguard the historical monument. On January 24th, 1997 the Caraglio Community, with the resolution of the City Council, decides to take the appropriate initiatives to comply with the invitation of the Supervision. On the following monthes in 1997 the engineer Luigi Galleani D’Agliano descendant of the founder of the Silk Mill Galleani di Caraglio (now known as “Filatoio Rosso”) promotes a Committee for the recovery of the “Filatoio Rosso”, and in the meantime acts as a diligent part to get from the most important banks of Piedmont the necessary funds to allow the Community to acquire full ownershp of the building. On July 28th, 1997 the Caraglio Community, toghether with ADSI, on the base of 104