Old Kiln (Arquata del Tronto)

The history of the Old Kiln

The lime works was founded in the first half of the 20th century, on the initiative of two business partners from Ascoli. It was built close to the source of its raw material, limestone.

In the kiln the rock was heated to about 800 °C to obtain quicklime. Loading took place from the top and the lime was unloaded from the bottom, without ever stopping operation. Lime is a building binder which, mixed with sand, gives air-setting mortars and, mixed with pozzolana, hydraulic ones.

The plant has long been decommissioned. In 2011 the site hosted a performance by the Compagnia dei Folli, as part of the Festival dell'Appennino, for the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy.

What to see at the Old Kiln

What can be seen of the building is the truncated tower structure, with the void of the arch at its base. The earthquakes of 2016-2017 brought down most of the construction.

The surrounding ground has a concave shape, evidence of fluvio-glacial erosion. In the nearby Valle dell'Acero, by contrast, the signs of ancient river erosion can be seen, with accumulations of moraine deposits.

How to visit the Old Kiln

The remains can be seen from the road that climbs from the center of Pretare toward Forca di Presta. It is an industrial archaeology site to be viewed from the outside. After the collapses, it is best to check the conditions of the area before setting out.

Where the Old Kiln is located

The kiln stands in the municipality of Arquata del Tronto, in the province of Ascoli Piceno, in Le Marche. It lies between Pretare and the Forca di Presta pass, in the National Park of the Sibillini Mountains. Pretare sits at the foot of the southern slope of the Vettore, and its territory is crossed by the European long-distance path E1.

Around the Old Kiln

Pretare is known as the village of the fairies. On the feast day of San Rocco, a group of girls dressed as fairies reaches the square and opens the dancing, in memory of the legend of the road the fairies are said to have imprinted on the side of the Vettore.

In the village are the churches of Santa Maria Vetere, San Rocco and the Crocifisso. Along the Fosso delle Pianelle, at 890 m above sea level, there is an old Art Nouveau (liberty style) water mill, converted into a home. Other places of historical interest are on the page on the archaeological sites of the Sibillini.