The Civelli Monument: A Historical Legacy for Sarteano
In October 1893, the community of Sarteano witnessed the inauguration of the “Civelli Monument,” dedicated to the memory of Giuseppe Civelli, an entrepreneur in the paper industry and the founder of newspapers, who played a significant role in the development of the Sarteano paper mill. The monument, originally erected in Piazza Bargagli, became a symbol of the strong connection between local entrepreneurship and the town’s economy.
However, in August 1941, the monument was removed from its original location in Piazza Bargagli and moved to a corner of the paper mill’s courtyard, where it remained for many years. It was only on May 22, 1993, during a special celebration, that the monument was properly relocated to the Civelli Park, returning to the community as a tangible symbol of its industrial history.
Although Giuseppe Civelli was unable to achieve the goal of 300 workers for his paper mill, as reported by Inigo Bertini, who documents around 70 employees, some historians argue that the actual number of workers exceeded 200. In any case, under Civelli’s leadership, the paper mill successfully established a cooperative among the workers, which had a significant impact on the local economy. In Piazza San Martino, there was a “Cooperative for the Workers of the Civelli Paper Mill” and a café, styled like a “dopolavoro” (after-work club), which was always run by the workers themselves.
Today, the paper mill is definitively closed after undergoing various challenges over the years, but the memory of that period of industrial and social development remains alive through the monument and the story of an era that shaped the history of Sarteano. The “Civelli Monument” continues to stand as a testament to the importance of this figure and his work for the town, a legacy that will never be forgotten.
