This ancient mill, now a museum that also hosts temporary exhibitions, sits on the banks of the Lierza torrent, an affluent of the Soligo, whose waters it uses. The Molinetto della Croda mill is composed of four parts, due to extension work carried out over the centuries: the original core can be recognised in the two-floor building with the wheel, which looks onto the lake at the foot of the waterfall. In the area behind this part, the miller’s house, the stable and the granary were built, and the whole complex rests on large, rough boulders. The mill was probably built in the 17th century, on the orders of the noble Battaglia family, who owned land in the areas of Refrontolo, Pieve di Soligo and Moriago. In 1875, after being extended on several occasions, the mill was sold to the Corbanese family, and remained in business under various owners until 1953. After years of disrepair, the building was restored and is now run by the Molinetto della Croda association. Further north, on the municipal road that runs alongside the mill area, are the Mondragon hills and the ancient neighbourhood of Rolle.

You can reach Refrontolo from the SP4 Soligo road. From Solighetto, along Via Francesco Fabbri, which runs round the foot of the hills, drive to the bridge over the Lierza; after about 300 m, before driving up to the village, take Via Molinetto on the left (clearly indicated for tourists). Continue along a good road until the large parking area that has been created near the mill.
The Caglieron caves can be reached by driving along the piedmont road that links Vittorio Veneto with the municipality of Fregona. After crossing the centre of the village, go past the Piai neighbourhood and go up Via Grotte del Caglieron; nearby you will find a parking area and a number of paths with steps that lead up to the site.

ACCESSIBLE: yes
MUNICIPALITY: Refrontolo
PLACE: Lierza Valley
GEOGRAPHICAL COORDINATES: X 1747450 - Y 5092128
PROVINCE: Treviso

FILE COMPILED BY: Bonato

On the opposite side, past Vittorio Veneto, it is possible to visit the Caglieron Caves (171 NS) at Breda di Fregona. This equipped route allows visitors to explore an interesting system of caves along the Caglieron torrent, shaped by the work of the stone carvers, who from the 16th century onwards quarried the so-called “pietra dolza”, a kind of local sandstone widely used in architecture. This whole semi-underground environment is crossed by the waterway that runs impetuously in and out the cavities in the rock, forming waterfalls and pools that are clearly visible from the walkways.

E. Morgan, Il molinetto della Croda racconta…memorie di Ernesto Morgan, Pieve di Soligo 1995
C. Rubini, E. Cipriani, Escursioni alto trevigiano, Verona 2003
E. Dall’Anese, Il molinetto della Croda nella civiltà rurale dell’alta marca trevigiana, Pieve di Soligo 2005