Segheria Taialacqua

At the mouth of the Val delle Seghe in Molveno, the Taialacqua Sawmill preserves a water-powered Venetian-type saw. Its mechanism represents the timber-working tradition that gave the valley its name.

Why it matters

Water-powered sawmills once served communities across Trentino. More than 300 such mills operated in the province until around 1930; Taialacqua is one of the few survivors. Its history reflects the importance of timber work and trade in Molveno.

What to notice

A small cylindrical water wheel drives both the frame that carries the blade and the horizontal carriage that advances the log. The coordinated movements convert water power into a reciprocating saw action. The mill stands beside the Rio Molini, where the flow once supported mills and workshops.

Context and history

In the sixteenth century, Molveno’s inhabitants built the mill at the prompting of the parish priest Don Taialacqua and entrusted it to managers responsible for its upkeep. It functioned almost as a cooperative serving the community. The municipality later restored the structure; its interpretation is linked to the Museo degli usi e costumi della gente trentina, Trentino’s museum of local customs.