Atlas Silk Mill

The introduction of mulberry trees and the raising of silkworms led to the growth of the silk industry and the spread of textile-making settlements in many villages on the lake, changing the appearance of the buildings and landscape and setting the stage for the transition from an agricultural to an industrial economy. The spinning mills, large multi-storey buildings with broad windows and tall chimneys, as at Brienno, were built in on the lake and close to streams, exploiting the availability of water for the production and transport of their wares. The silk mill was active until the mid-20th century.