In Merone, in the area bordering Lambrugo, the hamlet of Baggero has become the symbol of environmentally friendly land regeneration. At first glance it may look like a mere green oasis where to relax, it is in fact the tangible proof of the eco-friendly transformation the area of Merone has decided to undergo. In the past, Baggero was a lively place: fields were crowded with farmers and several local workshops used waterpower from the mills located along the Lambro river. As years went by, this place changed, fields got emptier, workshops were closed, and the village life shifted to the industrial area, above all around the cement plant. Baggero turned into a drab place of passage and it was later deprived of its beauty when it began to be exploited as a mine. However, many people still remembered its old beauty with nostalgia and recognized its potential. This is how this innovative project was conceived: transforming Baggero into an eco-village. Theplan, unique in its genre in Italy, aims at renovating the area in respect of nature. This dream has soon come true, as you can see by visiting Baggero. The mine has become a small oasis featuring two dams, perfectly integrated into the lakes of the so-called Triangolo Lariano (Triangle of Lario, the area comprised within the two southern branches of Lake Como). The watermills have been restored and are now powered by the rushing waters of the Lambro river. A valuable guide for visitors through the paths crisscrossing carefully cultivated maize fields and scented woods, where leverets and sparrows live happily.

Water is life. In Merone, this has never been merely an empty cliché. The continuous flow of the Lambro river reminds that the economic growth in this area has been mainly driven by watermills. At the end of the nineteenth century, there were ten of them, including the still existing one at Baggero. The main local activity was agriculture and the most widely grown crops were wheat and maize. The flow of water, causing the water wheels to turn, provided power to drive the grindstones, which milled corn into flour for polenta. Later, an intense commercial and manufacturing activity grew.Spinning mills and clog factories were built, which relied on the force of the river water and on the constant power provided by watermills to drive their industrial machinery. At the end of the 1960s, the soft rhythm of the water wheels caressing the river surface ceased. The factories left room to heavy industries and the mills suspended their activities for decades. As Baggero got emptier and its enthusiasm faded, it became a sad drab place. When the renovation of Baggero was included in the project for the creation of an eco-village, it was evident that the mills were not only part of the area, but they also represented a way to produce renewable energy by exploiting local resources. The renovation process has been challenging, but it is such a pleasure now to see the Lambro caressing the waterwheel again and listen to its gurgles as it softly crashes against the mill. Furthermore, the energy generated here is stored in a power station so that it can be used again. The mill renovation has given new life to Baggero: on Sunday, people flock here to see the inside of the mill and every day tourists come to visit the only existing workshop or just to take a stroll along the paths of the eco-village. Thanks to the mill, water resuscitates life.