As reported on page 45 of the book “Giglio Beato Scoglio”, by the young writers Armando Schiaffino and Domenico Solari published in 1970, in the Valley del Dolce there is a mill built by a certain Fra’ Rocco, testifying to the profitable agricultural activity on the island. The period, if it is that of the Grand Duke Leopoldo of Lorraine, is the end of 1700.
Islands, as we know, have always had to be “self-sustainable”, to use a term that is abused today – almost always inappropriately. The island is … isolated. If it does not produce food it does not allow survival.
In the Valley del Dolce flows a stream, one of the most cheerful of those on the island, which also flows over large smooth granite rocks called “coti”.
The cover photo shows part of the western side of the island, with Montecristo on the horizon. It is evident in this photo, the valley that divides two hills that almost “splits” the territory, like a small canyon.
A few years ago I happened to observe the blue dragonflies: it seemed to be in the woods enchanted by the fairies who scattered shimmering and magical powder.
I had never seen the mill, because it is not located directly on the path: before the stream you have to deviate downwards and so it has always escaped me.
With these drone photos taken by Matteo Mariuz, the structure is clearly understood, equipped with the mill building and a dam to contain a basin further upstream, fed by channels dug into the rock.
These photos made me want to see something that I was ashamed of not having found yet.
I went for Easter, hoping to find both the mill and the dragonflies, but the latter had not yet emerged from the chrysalis.
Marcella Ansaldo © 2022