Today the old Nobel Factory is hidden by vegetation, near the Lago Grande, between swamps and the industrial area of Avigliana. The old dynamite factory was established by A. Nobel and A. Sobrero in 1872. Behind its walls, there are stories of scientific innovation, sufferings, death, wealth, war, and emigration. In 1872 there were only 20 employees, by 1917 there were 5.000 people working in the factory, and in 1961 it closed. In Avigliana still many remember the factory’s activity, explosions and deaths, war events, or partisans attacks, for example the one across the swamps, captained by P. Fassino’s father, a well known Italian politician in Berlusconi’s opposition. The Italian writer Primo Levi on his return after his deportation to Germany, worked here as a chemist and from here in Avigliana, he wrote a poem, dedicated to his wife. In the industrial area, part of the factory has been restored to be used as a museum to remind us of: the production of nitroglycerine, air attacks during the war, accidents and deaths, old pictures of people who worked here and their stories, how the production changed during the years, and the emigration of young people from Avigliana to establishments abroad.
