8 - Canti di Pietra – Songs of Stone - Cultural Path to Discover Minucciano (Giuditta Ballerini and Enrico Testoni)

by Giuditta Ballerini and Enrico Testoni

Songs of Stone is a project aimed at enhancing the historical and cultural traditions of Minucciano, with a particular focus on the work of quarrymen, a central figure in the territory's history. The project involves creating an interactive cultural path that combines art, history and technology to tell the story of the community's past, particularly the hard work of marble extraction and processing. The route, 11.4 km long, is divided into three main stops:

• Piazza al Serchio, where visitors can discover the history of the place through an informative poster. The path begins with a reference to the Locomotive Monument, symbol of the local industrial heritage, and a series of information that tells the story of Minucciano and the traditional techniques of the quarrymen, including Varata and Lizzatura.

• Old Church and Museum of Identity of Upper Garfagnana "Olimpio Cammelli", where an exhibition on ancient marble processing techniques is displayed. The exhibition starts in a room displaying work machines, then leads to a video room where recordings of volunteer former quarrymen explain traditional techniques: marble squaring with hammer and chisel, lizzatura (marble block transport), and marble cutting with helical wire. The videos are projected on white marble slabs, creating a symbolic connection with local tradition.

• Marble Park in Gorfigliano, an open-air museum where three marble sculptures representing the three quarrying techniques are located. These interactive sculptures allow visitors to conclude what they have learned by reproducing the sounds of the three quarrying processes, exploring local traditions through sound.

The main objective of the project is to preserve the historical memory of the quarryman's craft and create a connection between former quarry workers and visitors, while promoting tourism and interest in the territory through an educational and immersive experience that counterbalances the challenges of depopulation and limited services.

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