Our Mill is a union of ancient skill and modern technology
The Molini del Ponte is located in Castelvetrano Selinunte (TP), a short distance from the largest archaeological park in Europe.
Our structure has no equal in Sicily or on the Italian peninsula. It is a showcase of the extraordinary coexistence of modern and ancient technology, with a modern system of computerized cylinder mills running alongside ancient stone mills in use since the 1800’s.
The story of Molini del Ponte S.r.l. and the Drago family is intertwined with the history of Castelvetrano; today, the fourth generation performs the daily activities of milling grain to produce high quality flour and semola with passion unaltered by time. It all began with the ambitious project of Francesco Paolo Drago and his brothers, to build a mill in Castelvetrano, which relied on distant mills in the Province of Palermo.
Their project was interrupted only by the earthquake of 1968 but would continue two years later, with the inauguration of modern cylinder mills for the production of semola and flour.
As often happens when one is passionate about their work, the excellence of results is accompanied by a constant seeking of perfection which for Mulini del Ponte, meant recovering ancient traditions. In the 1970’s the Drago family purchased two stone mills for the production of stone ground whole grain flour, which were put into use alongside the modern cylinder mills, beginning the present day practice of traditional milling and modern milling side by side.
The recovery of ancient grains was the innovative step of Filipo Drago, current owner of the company
at a time when the industry was concentrated on high yield grains at the cost of biodiversity.
Only the highest quality grains, exclusively hard and soft grain, cultivated in the Region of Sicily and delivered to the mill, where every grain is cleaned and processed. An indispensable condition for producing quality flour is the care of the grain, made possible by the modern system of grain selection and cleaning with optic separating and cleaning machines capable of removing any impurities before milling.
Molini del Ponte s.r.l. is present today on the international market with its products, sought for their fine quality, their flavor and scent, unique to the territory and preserved by the milling technique. Filippo Drago works with passion to recover the ancient traditions that allow the rediscovery of the authentic scents and flavors of Sicilian flour.
“The future lies in the mill-stones, aided by technology, a return to old practices, the wisdom and methods of the ancients, a production that respects the satisfaction of men who produce with their own hands while breathing the scents and aromas which to them tell stories.”
Filippo Drago