Lombardy greenlights law for historic mills: culture, tourism and

Lombardy approves law for historic mills

The Regional Council has approved legislation aimed at protecting and enhancing more than 700 historic mills across Lombardy. The bipartisan measure seeks to combine heritage conservation, tourism promotion and possible energy reuse.

Main measures included in the bill are:

• Regional census of mills to update the inventory;
• Restoration and maintenance works where needed;
• Inclusion of mills in tourist routes through a regional network and a dedicated recognition mark;
• Assessment of repurposing options, including potential small-scale energy production within energy communities;
• Establishment of a regional week of the mills, scheduled for May.

The law allocates €200,000 per year for the 2026–2028 period. Supporters describe the measure as a structured approach to preserve collective memory and unlock cultural, tourist and local development potential. Some regional councillors called for stronger links with active support policies for cereal supply chains.

Planned actions are expected to create opportunities for local communities, cultural routes and sustainable uses of water-powered heritage along Lombardy's waterways.