Riccati’s Baronial House

Riccati’s Baronial House belongs to one of the most important Manta’s family, already mentioned in town hall papers of 1500.
One of the most important member was Giovanni, who abandoned agriculture to dedicate himself to manufacturing industry. At the beginning of 1700 he directed the forge and the foundry of Paesana, then in Sampeyre and in other towns of Valle Varaita. 

Later, he built in Manta two huge spinning mills and enlarged his business; Giovanni Pietro, his heir, donate either his inheritance and the house.
The structure was built in the last years of the 18th century to host the production of silk.    

The spinning mill Riccati – which has remained unchanged through the years and was absorbed into the palace of the noble family – incarnate the features of the late 18th century working space. 

The structure was built in the last years of the 18th century to host the production of silk. In the central part, the huge roof covered forty burners organized in a straight line, warmed up by fire and provided of independent chimneys. 

Riccati’s factory, which kept working until the forties of 19th century, shows the features of the typical spinning mill of the 18th century, but introduces new and innovative features, expressed by the fine design, the symmetry, and the austere decoration of the pilasters that run alongside the portico.         
 
This attention to the details came from the ability of the architect, Sebastiano Riccati, who worked in Turin, but owned some territories in Manta and he was present, in the same ages, with opinions and inspections.
Now is private ownership, and can be visited during special events.
 

Silk production

The production of silk is one of the last phase of the breeding of silkworms and indicate the operations needed to acquire silk from the cocoons.

After the harvest, the cocoons are dried out and divided by dimension, shape, colour and clean up from the cotton wool.

And at this point the making begins: the string of which he cocoon is made of is unravelled to be worked and to transform it in silk. The cocoons are immersed in hot water (70°-80°).