Lavoir in Bergamo, Public washhouse in Città Alta, Bergamo, Italy.
This public washhouse in Bergamo features multiple stone basins arranged in rows under a covered structure, designed so many people could wash clothes at the same time. The construction shows how the city organized these communal facilities to meet daily household needs.
Built in 1891, this washhouse appeared when most homes lacked their own washing facilities. The structure served a real community need during a time when shared public resources were essential for daily life.
This washhouse served as a gathering space where neighbors met daily and shared news while caring for their clothes. The place held social importance beyond its practical purpose, bringing people together around a shared daily necessity.
This washhouse sits in the upper part of town and can be reached through narrow medieval streets that connect to other historic sites. Visitors should allow time to explore this area on foot, as the tight lanes make it best to move slowly through the neighborhood.
The water system uses stone channels that direct fresh water to each basin, revealing thoughtful engineering from that era. This network shows how much planning went into making the space function efficiently for many people at once.
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