“Canale Cavour” and the Magic of AREA907
On Saturday, 12 September, AREA907 reopened its doors to the public after the summer break, attracting a large audience and receiving an excellent response from visitors. The latest event in the Open907 programme, which was also included in RisòFF, the programme of Risò 2026, the International Rice Festival, transformed Buzzi Unicem’s historic Trino plant into a fascinating crossroads of history, culture, theatre and social interaction.
The setting of the company museum made the experience even more special. As the sun went down, a play of light enhanced the industrial architecture and the site’s heritage, creating a particularly evocative atmosphere.
Against this backdrop, all three scheduled guided tours were fully booked, offering visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the exhibition and learn more about the history of AREA907, its machinery and the people who contributed to the life of the plant.
The highlight of the evening was the performance “Canale Cavour: Tutto e solo di braccia e di badile” (“The Cavour Canal: Built Entirely by Hand and Shovel”), presented in partnership with the Associazione Irrigazione Ovest Sesia, which has proudly supported and promoted this production for fifteen years, ever since it was first staged in 2011 as part of the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy.
An extraordinary Lucilla Giagnoni, guided by Francesco Brugnetta’s script and direction, led the audience through a powerful and engaging narrative that brought to light the historical, human and hydraulic heritage connected with the construction of the Cavour Canal. It is a story of people, water and the land, intertwined with one of the great engineering achievements of the Risorgimento and with the transformation of the Piedmontese plain.
The performance was complemented by the evocative visual design created by Manuele Cecconello, the live music of Noego and the audio testimonies collected by Matteo Bellizzi, which gave a voice to the waterway workers and technicians involved in the daily management of the canals.
The evening was further enriched by a refreshment area set up inside the plant, a photographic exhibition dedicated to the Cavour Canal displayed in the entrance tunnel, and the participation of the “Conte Carlo Cozio” Chess Club of Casale Monferrato, which engaged visitors and chess enthusiasts in matches throughout the evening.
The event once again confirmed AREA907’s vocation as a place where industrial heritage meets art, culture and the local area, creating new opportunities for people to come together and share experiences.
