La Manifattura

The Manifattura Tabacchi of Chiaravalle is the oldest in Italy. It was opened on 15 September 1759 and since its inception has been the hub of urban, economic and demographic growth in the city. To date, it is the only one still open.

The Tobacco Factory of Chiaravalle is the oldest in Italy. It was opened on 15 September 1759 and since its inception has been the hub of urban, economic and demographic growth in the city. To date, it is the only one still open. The factory was built on the remains of the ancient mill of the Cistercian monks located along the valley of irrigation. Over the years its importance and the quality of its products grows and the factory becomes a jewel of the Papacy so that Pope Gregory XVI comes to visit in 1841. In 1870 the "Viale delle Sigaraie" was inaugurated, the largest in the region, which reached the center of the village with about 400 plane trees. Almost completely destroyed by the Germans during the Second World War, in 1945 the administration of the State Monopolies, under which it had passed since 1927, commissioned the architect Pierluigi Nervi to rebuild two new buildings: - the Storehouse of flocks and cigar processing - the premises of the refectory and the concierge. This great architect tries to preserve the external wall envelope of the historic building, but intervenes with the complete replacement of the floor slabs and vertical internal structures. The work carried out shows his competence in the search for structural solutions in reinforced concrete and iron. In manufacturing worked the cigarette companies that besides being the most important "machine" have also been a model of emancipation for all women. At the end of 1800 they entered the factory as girls, at the age of 12. From 1907 it was established that girls had to be at least 17 years old in order to be hired. The work was punctuated by the sound of the siren, the first was heard at 8:00 in the morning. Still today every day at 12:00 the siren sounds from the tower of the manufacture to remind the sense of time, work and life. Today, the manufacture of Chiaravalle, the last manufacture in Italy is spread over a total area of 72,000 square meters and the production site includes 19 buildings for a total of 29,000 square meters covered area. Probably if there had not been the Manufacture would not have existed even Chiaravalle!