Museum dedicated to the Mercury Mines of Monte Amiata, which have operated in this area of Siena for over a century, representing the main source of wealth and work in this area.
The visits begin with the Multimedia Museum (inside which the evocative “mercury room”, an installation made up of thousands of drops of mercury which generate small luminescent explosions and very particular sounds, will certainly catch the attention of children). Second stop is at the Clock Tower to discover the mineral excavation systems and the metal extraction phases, with special models reconstructed down to the details.
The heart of the visit which will not fail to excite the children is the “Gallery VII”, a real tunnel used by the miners and now rearranged for the visit of the public who on board a mining wagon travels 250 meters underground through various miners’ work environments, complete with tools and machinery.
Last stop at the Garibaldi well, one of the undemolished wells that led the miners underground via cage-lifts where service caverns were set up for the extraction of mercury. Workshops and themed events are often organized to accompany the visits.
The historical and human story of the mining culture of Monte Amiata, but also its territorial and social layout, show peculiarities that have been highlighted in the thematic succession, shaped like a real script that accompanies the spectator, immersing him in the narration and experience and mining life.
Gallery Level VII
After the visit to the Documentary Museum and the Multimedia Museum it is possible to get on the Miners’ Wagon and travel 250 meters into the tunnel, where some work environments are reconstructed complete with tools and machinery, as well as the excavation fronts.
The itinerary delves into some particularly significant moments of mining work, such as the excavation fronts with soil containing cinnabar and the arrival of the trolleys at the mouth of the shaft, and illustrates the evolution of the work systems, starting from the 1920s up to arrive at the 1950s, within an evocative atmosphere of sounds and smells.
Documentary Museum
The current structure, after the reclamation interventions, corresponds to the entrance to the factory, illustrates the mineral excavation and metal extraction systems, the work phases, the daily life of the miners, the uses of mercury over time.
The basic entrance ticket includes a free visit to the multimedia museum “The places of Mercury”, a guided tour of the Level VII Gallery on board the miners’ locomotive, a guided tour of the Mining Museum (Clock Tower)
Mining Museum Park
Via Suor Gemma 1
Abbadia San Salvatore (Siena)
Tuscany – Italy
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