Hydroelectric power station Angelo Bertini, Hydroelectric power station in Cornate d'Adda, Italy
The Angelo Bertini hydroelectric power station is an industrial facility along the Adda River that has generated electricity from the river flow since the late 1800s. The building combines engineering design with solid architecture and uses the water gradient to drive generators that supply power to the region.
The power station was built in 1898 under the direction of architect Enrico Carli and was one of the first plants of its kind in northern Italy. Its construction marked the shift toward modern electricity generation and showed how rivers could be harnessed for industrialization.
The power station represents how water energy shaped this area and remains a symbol of the technical progress Italy achieved in the late 1800s. Visitors can see how the building fits into the landscape along the river and understand its role in the local community.
The facility sits directly along the river and is visible from the outside, though it typically does not offer public tours of the interior spaces. A walk along the riverbank around the building helps you understand the structure and see the technical components that make it operate.
Much of the original machinery from 1898 still operates and has generated power continuously for more than a century. This longevity demonstrates the quality of the early construction and how well Italian engineers planned their work back then.
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