The public washhouse of Rio nell’Elba is located inside a building featuring a truss ceiling and large windows, situated near the Fonte dei Canali, which supplies water to its basins.
Over the course of its history, the structure has undergone numerous modifications. Originally, the washhouse was housed in the building that today contains the water pumping station. With the steady increase in population, the municipality expanded it in 1873 to better meet the needs of the community.
The construction of the current washhouse, aimed at improving the management and distribution of drinking water, was completed in 1911. To protect the purity of the spring and ensure proper hygienic conditions, eighteen self-draining basins were installed, replacing the traditional single large basin. These interventions followed the provisions outlined in the 1917 Regulation for Soil and Housing Hygiene, which established strict guidelines for safeguarding water quality and for the correct use of public spaces dedicated to washing clothes.
The separate basins remained in use until the 1960s, when the structure was simplified to just two large tubs: a higher one for rinsing and a lower one for washing. As former sanitary concerns gradually faded, the washhouse began to see fewer and fewer visitors.
For many decades, this place served as an important social hub: women gathered here to do laundry together, exchange news, and share everyday moments. Miners returning from work would also sometimes stop at the washhouse to clean up before heading home. Today, the site remains a valuable testament to the community life of the past.
Dove si trova: Via Zimbelli
Come arrivare: Il lavatoio pubblico di Rio nell’Elba si trova nella parte nord orientale del paese, nei pressi della Casa del Parco.
