4 abandoned factories in Piedmont

Piedmont is one of Italy's regions with the most important industrial traditions. For over a century, Turin and its surrounding area have hosted factories, foundries, textile mills, and large production complexes that have contributed to the region's economic growth.

With the progressive decline of certain industrial activities, many of these buildings were abandoned, and some remained unused for years. Today, they represent important examples of industrial archaeology, often characterized by large structures made of brick, steel, and concrete.

In this article, we've collected four abandoned factories in Piedmont that are still recognizable and particularly interesting from a historical and architectural point of view.

In this article:

• Former Ballada Enamelworks in Turin

• Former Superga Factory in Turin

• Former FIMIT plant in Turin

• Former Tecumseh plant in Turin

• Why factories are abandoned

• Conclusions

Former Ballada Enamelworks in Turin

In the Aurora district of Turin, there is the complex of the former Ballada Foundries and Enamels , one of the most interesting examples of Turin's industrial architecture of the early twentieth century.

The complex was designed in 1906 by engineer Pietro Fenoglio, one of the leading figures in Turin's Art Nouveau architecture. Over the years, the buildings were expanded by other designers, and the complex eventually included a large central foundry, workshops, offices, and other service buildings.

From an architectural perspective, the Ballada Enamel Works are particularly interesting because the industrial building wasn't conceived as a simple warehouse. The facades feature decorative elements, large openings, and a metal structure that reflects the construction techniques of the time.

Today, the complex is in a poor state of preservation. The main façade is supported by scaffolding, and some internal structures are still visible, while the area is bordered by construction site structures. The building is also protected.

The former Smalterie Ballada therefore represent a particularly significant example of Turin's industrial archaeology , above all for its link with the architecture of Pietro Fenoglio.

Former Superga Factory in Turin

The history of the former Superga factory is closely linked to the industrial history of Turin.

The first factory was built at the beginning of the twentieth century, in 1903, and over the decades the complex was progressively expanded with new production buildings, laboratories, offices and facilities for employees.

The company became particularly well-known during the 20th century thanks to the production of the famous Superga footwear. During the Second World War, the factory suffered heavy damage from bombing, but construction and production continued in the decades that followed.

With the decline of the manufacturing sector, the complex gradually began to lose its function. Most of the original buildings in the area were demolished and replaced by new constructions, but some historic buildings still stand along Via Verolengo and within the area.

The surviving buildings are particularly interesting because they still allow us to recognize the identity of the ancient industrial plant today.

The complex thus represents a testament to Turin's transformation from a large manufacturing city to an urban center increasingly oriented towards services, residences, and new businesses.

Former FIMIT plant in Turin

Among the most interesting abandoned factories in Turin we also find the former FIMIT plant , located in via Gabriele Rossetti.

The complex's history is much older than it might seem. The first industrial building was constructed around 1830 as a cotton spinning mill. Over the course of the 19th century, the structure changed function several times, hosting businesses related to the processing of linen, hemp, rice, metals, and textiles.

In the twentieth century, the complex became part of SNIA Viscosa and subsequently, from the late 1950s, it was used by FIMIT for the production of insulating materials.

Industrial activity finally ended in 1998, and the buildings were gradually abandoned. Over the years, the complex has suffered from squatting, vandalism, and general deterioration.

The unique feature of the former FIMIT is the presence of buildings from different industrial eras. The oldest section retains the 19th-century factory layout, while subsequent modifications reflect the production transformations that occurred over the course of over a century.

It is precisely this stratification that makes the complex particularly interesting from the point of view of industrial archaeology.

Former Tecumseh plant in Turin

In the Mirafiori area is the former Tecumseh factory , one of the large abandoned industrial complexes in the southern area of Turin.

The plant occupied a vast area and included industrial buildings, offices, and service facilities. According to municipal records, the complex had over 21,000 square meters of covered space within a site of nearly 39,000 square meters.

The plant's operations ended in 2006. Since then, the area has remained unused, gradually becoming one of the large abandoned industrial areas in the region.

The complex does not have any particular monumental features like the Smalterie Ballada or other historic industrial buildings in Turin, but it is significant for its size and the role it played in the production history of Mirafiori.

In recent years, the former Tecumseh plant has also been in the news due to the dangerous conditions within the area. In December 2025, a young man who was at the plant during an exploration fell approximately 10 meters into the structure, sustaining serious injuries.

The case of the former Tecumseh also shows the other side of industrial archaeology: large buildings still standing can become extremely dangerous after years without maintenance.

Why factories are abandoned

The abandonment of a factory is often the result of a long and complex process.

One of the main causes is the decline in manufacturing activity . Economic changes, production relocation, new technologies, and market transformations can make it no longer profitable to keep a plant running.

Another factor is the location of the buildings. Many factories built between the 19th and 20th centuries were initially located on the outskirts of cities, but with urban expansion, they were gradually surrounded by residential neighborhoods.

When facilities become too large, obsolete, or difficult to manage, demolishing or converting them can become a particularly complex problem.

In the case of historic buildings, architectural constraints also apply. A factory designed by a prominent architect or considered a significant testament to industrial history cannot be treated like a normal warehouse.

The result is that some complexes remain unused for years, awaiting a recovery project that can reconcile historical preservation, economic sustainability and new functions .

Conclusions

The abandoned factories of Piedmont tell, above all, the story of the region's industrial transformation.

The former Smalterie Ballada demonstrates the importance of Pietro Fenoglio's industrial architecture, the former Superga tells the story of Turin's manufacturing production, the former FIMIT preserves an industrial stratification that began in the 19th century, while the former Tecumseh represents a much more recent phase in Mirafiori's production history.

These buildings are interesting not only because they are abandoned, but because they allow us to observe the concrete traces of an industrial era that has now changed profoundly .

Urbex allows us to visually rediscover these forgotten places, but it's important to remember that an abandoned building may be private, subject to restrictions, unsafe, or forbidden. Abandonment and accessibility are not synonymous, and any exploration must always respect ownership, restrictions, and safety regulations.