Scrapbook Pg. 27

SCRAPBOOK
(Pg. 27)

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Parco Territoriale Attrezzato Sorgenti Solfuree

Below and between Lettomanoppello and Roccamorice, at the bottom of the gorge that divides them, is the village of Decontra (administratively part of Scafa), and through Decontra runs the Lavino River. The river is, in places, fed by sulfur springs which give the water a slightly milky appearance where it is shallow. Along one section of the river in Decontra is the Parco Territoriale Attrezzato Sorgenti Sulfuree, the Sulfur Springs Territorial Park, a small park created in 1987. Here there are deeper, sulfur-laden pools of water which are turquoise in color due to their high concentration of sulfur. In the park can also be found the remains of the old 'Le Vrice' flour mill, one of the last mills to serve the people of Lettomanoppello and Roccamorice.

A section of the Lavino River in Lettomanoppello, outside the Parco Territoriale. The water appears normal here.

A sulfur-laden pool within the Parco Territoriale.

Signpost for the old mill in the Parco Territoriale.

The old mill, which stopped working in the 1960s. It's proper name is the Mulino Farnese, but it is locally known as the 'Le Vrice' mill (pronounced 'Le Vrich'). The mill at one time belonged to the De Stafanis family of Lettomanoppello. In the WWII era the owner was a man from Lettomanoppello, whose wife was from Roccamorice.

The mill was originally water-powered, and the water has that turquoise color caused by the sulfur content. The mill interior photos, below, were taken in the room directly over the water, where the grain was ground.

Interior of the Le Vrice mill; it is falling into a state of ruin, but the millstones are still there. After WWII this was the one of the last - if not the last - of the mills where the people of Lu Lette and La Rocca could have their grain ground into flour.

The millstones at the Le Vrice mill.

1953, Roccamorice : returning from the Le Vrice mill: the donkey is carrying a freshly ground bag of flour; Bart Parete is sitting on the donkey, which is being held by his father, Giuseppe.

Scrapbook Pg. 26

Scrapbook Pg. 28