The Diga del Molato is an irrigation and hydroelectric dam constructed in 1928 near Nibbiano, Piacenza, by engineers Augusto Ballerio and Guido Comboni on the Tidone torrent. The structure created an artificial lake positioned on the border between the provinces of Pavia and Piacenza, serving municipalities including Zavattarello and Alta Val Tidone.
The dam takes its name from the Rio Molato, a left tributary of the Tidone near the point where the structure was built. The resulting lake became known both as Lago di Trebecco and Lago del Molato. The nomenclature reflects the territorial and administrative changes of the period: the municipality of Trebecco, whose territory originally encompassed much of the reservoir basin, was suppressed in 1928, the same year the dam was completed. The lake sits at the foot of Monte Bissolo, a wooded hillside rising steeply from the eastern shore, characterized by mixed deciduous forests dominated by downy oak.
About the Dam
The Diga del Molato represents early twentieth-century Italian hydraulic engineering, designed to serve dual purposes of irrigation and electricity generation. Its construction required careful coordination with the landscape and local communities along the Tidone valley.
Details
- Engineers: Augusto Ballerio and Guido Comboni
- Year: 1928
- Location: Tidone torrent, border of Pavia and Piacenza provinces
- Purpose: Irrigation and hydroelectric generation
- Lake formed: Lago di Trebecco / Lago del Molato
Frequently asked questions
Who designed the Diga del Molato?
Engineers Augusto Ballerio and Guido Comboni designed and built the dam in 1928.
Where is the dam located?
The dam stands on the Tidone torrent near Nibbiano, on the border between Pavia and Piacenza provinces in Emilia Romagna, encompassing territories of Zavattarello and Alta Val Tidone.
Why does the lake have two names?
The lake was originally known as Lago di Trebecco after the nearby inhabited center, but became known as Lago del Molato after the dam name. The municipality of Trebecco was suppressed in 1928, the year of the dam’s completion, leading to the adoption of the alternative designation.
