THE ALVINO MILL 1884

The History

At dawn on the day of the grand opening in 1884 “the city was woken by the sound of a powerful siren that inspired wonder and promised hope of progress for the population”.
The siren was a novelty for a city with no industry and which “rose with the sun and returned with its setting”.
Soon it marked the beginning and the end of the working day even for the peasants in the countryside.

The building was designed by the architect Leonardo Ridola. It had twenty seven rooms on three levels comprising a mill, a pasta factory, and a mechanical bakery powered by a 20 horsepower steam engine. The aim was to improve industry and to expand trade.
It was, in fact, the only steam powered mill in Matera, all the others were animal powered. The three presses were able to process 30-35 hundredweights of hot dough in eight hours. The kneading, gramolating, and cutting machines processed the dough which was dried by a forced air ventilation unit.

The mill was able to use the excellent durum wheat from the hills of Matera in an industrial production process that produced pasta of excellent quality. It was a really modern company and employed fifty workers with an annual production of about 30,000 hundredweights of pasta which was sold throughout Puglia and Basilicata.

Vincenzo Alvino’s character and drive were demonstrated by his next project which was to establish an efficient bank to pioneer an innovative system in the financial and economic world. He established the Matera Cooperative Bank.

At dawn on the day of the grand opening in 1884 “the city was woken by the sound of a powerful siren that inspired wonder and promised hope of progress for the population”.
The siren was a novelty for a city with no industry and which “rose with the sun and returned with its setting”.
Soon it marked the beginning and the end of the working day even for the peasants in the countryside.

The building was designed by the architect Leonardo Ridola. It had twenty seven rooms on three levels comprising a mill, a pasta factory, and a mechanical bakery powered by a 20 horsepower steam engine. The aim was to improve industry and to expand trade.
It was, in fact, the only steam powered mill in Matera, all the others were animal powered. The three presses were able to process 30-35 hundredweights of hot dough in eight hours. The kneading, gramolating, and cutting machines processed the dough which was dried by a forced air ventilation unit.

The mill was able to use the excellent durum wheat from the hills of Matera in an industrial production process that produced pasta of excellent quality. It was a really modern company and employed fifty workers with an annual production of about 30,000 hundredweights of pasta which was sold throughout Puglia and Basilicata.

Vincenzo Alvino’s character and drive were demonstrated by his next project which was to establish an efficient bank to pioneer an innovative system in the financial and economic world. He established the Matera Cooperative Bank.

Alvino mill in Matera - Historical photo
Alvino mill in Matera - Historical photo
Alvino mill in Matera, production

QUINTO E MANFREDI

The “Pasta Lucana” Venture

The Alvino Mill later became “Quinto e Manfredi”.

September 1946 saw the start of the “Pasta Lucana” venture, the prize-winning mill and pasta factory run by the Quinto and Manfredi brothers.
It was a company which matched the best of Italian industry.
Thanks to a policy of continuous improvement, the pasta produced became synonymous with high quality.
It was sold in the provinces of Taranto, Bari, Lecce and Naples, and was exported to the United States.

The new management used skilled labour and innovative advertising methods for the time such as film advertising, posters, leaflets, and advertisements in local and national newspapers. A football club called “Real Lucana” was also created.

The relationship with the employees is supportive: in situations of need they can even obtain loans for the purchase of a house or a wedding. A strong point of the company’s management is a woman, Maria Giuseppa Lazzazzera, affectionately called “Aunt Seppa”, widow of Vincenzo Quinto. With the firmness and wisdom typical of great women, she knew how to keep the work of the partners and their children behind the scenes.

The Alvino Mill later became “Quinto e Manfredi”.

September 1946 saw the start of the “Pasta Lucana” venture, the prize-winning mill and pasta factory run by the Quinto and Manfredi brothers.
It was a company which matched the best of Italian industry.
Thanks to a policy of continuous improvement, the pasta produced became synonymous with high quality.
It was sold in the provinces of Taranto, Bari, Lecce and Naples, and was exported to the United States.

The new management used skilled labour and innovative advertising methods for the time such as film advertising, posters, leaflets, and advertisements in local and national newspapers. A football club called “Real Lucana” was also created.

The relationship with the employees is supportive: in situations of need they can even obtain loans for the purchase of a house or a wedding. A strong point of the company’s management is a woman, Maria Giuseppa Lazzazzera, affectionately called “Aunt Seppa”, widow of Vincenzo Quinto. With the firmness and wisdom typical of great women, she knew how to keep the work of the partners and their children behind the scenes.

Advertising of Pasta Lucana - Alvino Mill Matera
Advertising of Pasta Lucana - Alvino Mill Matera
Alvino mill in Matera
Alvino mill in Matera before the renovation

THE ALVINO MILL

The Restoration

After thirty years of neglect, the Alvino mill has been renovated by the entrepreneur Nicola Benedetto and interior design architect Ettore Mocchetti, whose careful restoration has enhanced its beauty and features.
It is an example of urban regeneration, a distinctive building that stands out: with an architecture that preserves its historical appeal, large spaces have been created to host public events, exhibitions, theme nights, and weddings.
It is a setting with an antique but perfectly contemporary charm which welcomes guests with an understated but stylish ambience.

THE ALVINO MILL

The Restoration

After thirty years of neglect, the Alvino mill has been renovated by the entrepreneur Nicola Benedetto and interior design architect Ettore Mocchetti, whose careful restoration has enhanced its beauty and features.
It is an example of urban regeneration, a distinctive building that stands out: with an architecture that preserves its historical appeal, large spaces have been created to host public events, exhibitions, theme nights, and weddings.
It is a setting with an antique but perfectly contemporary charm which welcomes guests with an understated but stylish ambience.

Alvino mill in Matera before the renovation