Coopera has carried out, as part of the project to enhance the archaeological sites, a study for the consolidation and the possibility of making the "visitable"Path of the Mills of Meadow” (Massa Marittima, Gr).
The work was commissioned by the Association “For Prata. Between past and future.” who wanted to study the two existing mills in a state of ruin and propose a visiting methods.
The remains of the mills are located in a path immersed in a splendid forest in the valley formed by the river Carsia, next to the medieval village of Prata.
From the 15th to the 18th century the entire territory of Prata was ceded to the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala He built a farm there, primarily for livestock farming, and there is already mention of the presence of two mills with seasonal operations. In 1696, the two mills were granted by the Hospital on a permanent lease to a man from Prata, in exchange for an annual rent. Finally, in the 18th century Peter Leopold of Lorraine took over the entire complex.
The study has brought to light the historical and naturalistic potential of the site and the possibility of creating a visitor route once the monumental evidence has been secured.
In general, the proposed interventions aim to slow and halt the main degradation processes affecting the mills' architecture, preventing further deterioration, and improving visitor safety, the monument's readability, and consequently, the understanding of human influences on the landscape by a lay public.
