Antica Cava Moschini

The ancient Moschini marble quarry at Ornavasso-Candoglia forms part of a historical, archaeological and natural site of extraordinary interest, which attracts thousands of tourists and visitors every year who wish to experience first-hand these places rich in history and art. The geological outcrops are situated upstream of the alluvial fan of the San Carlo stream, between the Santuario della Guardia and the fortifications of the Cadorna Line.

It is an interesting example of an underground marble quarry, offering visitors the chance to admire the majesty of nature and the various excavation techniques.

There are records of Ornavasso marble dating back to Roman times, as evidenced by stelae and altars from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD preserved in the Civic Archaeological Collections at the Castello Sforzesco in Milan.

Looking out over the valley, one can see the start of the waterway which, running from the Toce to Lake Maggiore, then along the Ticino and the Naviglio Grande to the Darsena in Milan, facilitated the use of Ornavasso marble in numerous distinguished monuments throughout Lombardy from the 13th century onwards.