Florence's Medieval Gualchiere di Remole to Become Museum and Hydroelectric Plant

The Gualchiere di Remole, a rare medieval textile mill on the Arno River near Florence, is set for a major restoration after decades of neglect. The Tuscan Region has allocated €3 million in its 2026 budget to create a museum on the site, which also houses sculptor Piero Gensini's studio since 1992. The complex, owned by the City of Florence, was built in the mid-14th century and operated until the 1966 flood. It is the only surviving example of numerous medieval fulling mills along the Arno. The project includes a small hydroelectric plant to generate renewable energy. Earlier, €340,000 from the Fondo Sviluppo e Coesione funded roof and wall consolidation. The ambitious goal is to create a metropolitan river park as a gateway to Florence. Gensini opens his studio to the public on October 4, 2025, for the 21st Giornata del Contemporaneo.