In past centuries, water power was the primary source of energy for operating machines such as mills, hammers, crushers, oil presses, sawmills, wine presses, spinning mills, and mill stones.

The 1894-96 Cantonal Register of Public Waters recorded as many as 900 water-powered machines in Ticino. According to the subsequent Inventory of Factories Using Water as a Driving Force, conducted by the Cantonal Office of Ethnographic Museums between 1986 and, there were there were still 97 hydraulic machines operating in the Bellinzona area alone at the end of the 19th century.

In this context, the territory of Arbedo has played a key role since ancient times, as evidenced by the place name “Morinazio” (Molinazzo) found in documents dating back to 1388 (Calderari, A. 1975: Glossario del dialetto – Toponomastica ed altri scritti di Vittore Pellandini). The first written traces of the existence of the Roggia dei Mulini (Mill Canal) are found in documents from the Patriziale Archive dating back to the 1500s.

According to Vittore Pellandini (as mentioned in “Tradizioni popolari ticinesi”), Arbedo had an unparalleled wealth of 15 mills combined with crushers, presses, and grindstones, so much so that “the entire Bellinzona countryside turned to the mills of Arbedo to grind grains, crush walnuts and linseed, and polish millet”. This also led to the nickname “Asini” (donkeys) for the inhabitants of Arbedo, who were identified with the quadrupeds they used to transport milling products.

The Mulino Erbetta is the last surviving mill from this rich tradition. It is named after the village’s last miller, Gaudenzio Erbetta (1906-1993), who, following in his father’s footsteps, maintained the family’s milling tradition.

A pair of mortars dated 1672, embedded in front of the mill, indicate that a crusher likely existed on the site centuries ago.

According to the Water Cadastre of the late 19th century, the Mulino Erbetta had two wheels with a diameter of 2.40 meters, utilizing a fall height of 3.20 meters. Each wheel produced a force of 2.60 horsepower with an efficiency of 70 per cent. Some mill stones from this facility are buried inside and outside the building.

The traditional stone grinding system was replaced in 1936 with a semi-automatic industrial machine driven by a powerful iron wheel. This investment was initiated by Gaudenzio Erbetta, who embarked on this industrial venture after obtaining a corn rationing permit for human consumption from the Swiss War Economy Department in November 1935.

The Mulino Erbetta continued its operations until the 1950s. The mill stones came to a permanent halt in the 1970s when Gaudenzio Erbetta ceased the periodic partial activation of the mill for maintenance purposes.

The current Mulino Erbetta complex (mill, miller’s house, and canal) corresponds to the semi-automated industrial system built in 1936. It is a unique historical testament in Switzerland, representing a semi-automated industrial mill setup. This structure is a relic of Ticino’s industrial landscape, now located within a residential area.

For these reasons, the Ticino Office of Cultural Heritage granted the Mulino Erbetta and the canal protected status at the cantonal level (Resolution of the Council of State No. 1039, March 11th, 2003).

The restoration and enhancement project, spearheaded by the architectural firm RIBO from Cadenazzo and strongly supported by the Foundation, focused primarily on the conservative restoration of the existing structures, with particular attention to its new cultural, educational, and touristic roles.

In addition to restoring and reactivating the mill machinery, significant emphasis was placed on refurbishing all elements of the complex (mill, miller’s house, and canal) and promoting educational aspects. One of the primary goals was to create an educational path guiding visitors through the milling process, leading to a museum inside the miller’s house. A footbridge (the only added element to the original structure) allows visitors to admire the canal and mill wheel from above.

The second phase of the revitalisation project involves the complete restoration of the canal in the coming years, from the water intake to its final outlet after passing through the Mulino Erbetta.