The Tretto Plateau is doubtlessly one of the most important mining locations of the upper Vicenza province, so much so that in the 1600s Caldogno enthusiastically defined it as “that highly praised Tretto mountain” “being so full of the richest silver, copper and lead mines.... and more, for it is the only place in the world where that beautiful clay is found which gives the white condiment to the finest Faenza majolica”.
In fact during the 15th and 16th centuries the plateau was one of the main Venetian silver mining centres and when this production went through a depression at the end of the sixteenth century the silver bearing galleries were used for mining kaolin, the famous ‘white clay’ which is used by majolica and porcelain factories, and to which the name of Tretto continues to be linked.