In the heart of the Barbagia Mandrolisa, the along the valley of the Torrei River, in the locality of Gusabu, agro of the Municipality of Tiana is located a Mill, used for grinding wheat, driven by hydraulic energy coming from the Rio Torrei. This mill together with the Gualchiera Bellu located further upstream constitute one of the only testimonies of pre-industrial archeology still functioning in Europe. The watermill called Su Moline de su Monzu was brought back to life in the 1990s thanks to a passionate recovery and restoration work carried out by skilled local craftsman and owner of the mill, Mr. Marcello Angelo of Tiana. Thanks to his work, the paddles, pushed by the harmonious play of the water of the “Torrei” river, have put the ancient hub back into motion and, as in the past, the grain becomes flour under the tireless march of the centuries-old stone millstones. The mill has been owned by the Marcello family for three generations and to this day it continues undaunted in its gyroscopic motion. Today it is no longer in use as it has been replaced by modern industrial millstones, but it is still functioning and it is possible to see and admire it in its entirety. The Mill has belonged to the Marcello Family for three Generations (Marcello Domenico 1800-Marcello Salvatorico 1887-Marcello Angelo 1935). Features: vertical wheel mill for grinding durum wheat. The outer driving wheel and all wooden components are made of oak. While the millstones are made of Basalt. The Mill is placed on two levels. In the first are located all the gears and drive shaft. In the second are the millstones for crushing grain. The Mill, still in working order, when put into operation can produce up to three quintals of flour in 24 hours.
