Dalla calce al cemento: la realtà produttiva ligure

Liguria has always been a region with a rich production of binders, especially lime and, in part, hydraulic lime. The excellent quality of magnesian lime and the high cost of hydraulic lime did not favor the spread in the region of hydraulic binders. However, the potential of the cement sector did not escape Genoa’s entrepreneurship which was initially supported by substantial investments outside Liguria, especially in Piedmont and Lombardy. Only at the beginning of the twentieth century the first cement plants in Liguria were built on the hydraulic lime production sites (in the Genoa and Imperia provinces). Despite the initial fervour, many production companies did not make it to the twenties and were closed down, downsized or changed their activity due to a crisis in the construction industry. Over time the factories and quarries were abandoned and most were demolished, today there are just a few testimonials left.