Munich plant in Misterbianco
The Di Monaco Plant in Misterbianco represents an example of industrial architecture. The factory was originally a factory that included a complex of warehouses, now disappeared, used for different types of craftsmanship, including the production of olive oil and the distillation of cognac; the ownership of the buildings was owned by the Monaco family. Today it represents an events center, the upper part of the premises was taken over for the expansion of some offices, while the ground floor has become a deposit for the costumes of the usual annual carnival.
The plant was built at the end of the nineteenth century with the aim of encouraging modern and innovative production in the sectors, pasta factory, distillery and mill. It experienced constant technical and productive development and its fame came to arouse the interest of the national government, so much so that the interior minister himself Giovanni Giolitti came to visit the industry in 1901. The plant is known for first adopting electric lighting in 1919; since 1866 the town was equipped exclusively with oil lamps for lighting and the municipal administration only changed this practice in 1923. The Monaco family's industry, however, was short-lived: on the evening of April 20, 1922, a violent fire, probably of malicious origin, devastated the entire headquarters, putting an end to the factory's work.
The main seat of the original building remains, which is today the seat of the Museum of Costumes of the Carnival and of premises used for cultural events.
