Centuries-old manufacturing activities have featured the economy of Toscolano Maderno, characterising the area history and landscape. These activities mainly involved the utilisation of water from the Toscolano torrent to operate the waterwheels of mills, forges and paper mills. Paper manufacture featured heavily in the economy of Toscolano and Maderno after it commenced in the 14th century in Paper Mill Valley (Valle delle Cartiere), which has become a symbolic location of the Ecomuseum. The remains of the old buildings amidst a unique natural environment can be admired when strolling along the charming, valley floor road. A paper museum, Museo della Carta, is situated in the old Maina Inferiore paper mill, exhibiting the evolution of this centuries-old business, which was ideally-situated for developing along the course of the Toscolano river.