AP Photos: Nets for soccer goals made on an Italian island
Posted March 16, 2019 7:00 am
MONTE ISOLA, Italy (AP) - Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time.
The factory of La Rete S.r.l. - an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals - is indeed a throwback.
Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too.
There used to be several net producers on Monte Isola but La Rete is the last company still running.
"Historically, this is a territory where nets have been made. It started with fishing and hunting then was slowly transformed into nets for sports," said Elio Agnesi, who, along with partner (and Monte Isola mayor) Fiorello Turla, has been running the company for 40 years.
Monte Isola is a picturesque island located in the middle of Lake Iseo in northern Italy. All of the company's 18 workers reside on the island and use scooters to reach the factory each day on narrow paths.
Merchandise is ferried to the mainland on a barge once per week using a dock located under the factory.
The island's population is about 1,800.
La Rete also produces nets for volleyball, basketball and other sports. The company makes 10,000 nets per year.
"We invented the hexagon-shaped stitching for goal nets," Agnesi said. "And now I see it copied all over the world."
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Online: www.laretesrl.it
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In this photo taken on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, a woman works at "La Rete" (The Net) factory in Monte Isola, Lake Iseo, northern Italy. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. _ an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals _ is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, a woman works at "La Rete" (The Net) factory in Monte Isola, Lake Iseo, northern Italy. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. _ an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals _ is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, a view of Monte Isola, Lake Iseo, northern Italy. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. _ an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals _ is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, a woman works at "La Rete" (The Net) factory in Monte Isola, Lake Iseo, northern Italy. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. _ an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals _ is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, a woman works at "La Rete" (The Net) factory in Monte Isola, Lake Iseo, northern Italy. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. , an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals, is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. There used to be several net producers on Monte Isola but La Rete is the last company still running. âHistorically, this is a territory where nets have been made. It started with fishing and hunting then was slowly transformed into nets for sports,â said Elio Agnesi, who along with partner (and Monte Isola mayor) Fiorello Turla, has been running the company for 40 years. Monte Isola is a picturesque island located in the middle of Lake Iseo in northern Italy. All of the companyâs 18 workers and reside on the island and use scooters to reach the factory each day on narrow paths. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, a view of Mont'Isola, Lake Iseo, Northern Italy, taken through a net of "La Rete" (The Net) factory in Monte Isola. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. _ an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals _ is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, a woman works at "La Rete" (The Net) factory in Monte Isola, Lake Iseo, northern Italy. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. _ an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals _ is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, a woman works at "La Rete" (The Net) factory in Monte Isola, Lake Iseo, northern Italy. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. _ an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals _ is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, a woman works at "La Rete" (The Net) factory in Monte Isola, Lake Iseo, northern Italy. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. _ an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals _ is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this photo taken on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 A woman works at "La Rete" (The Net) factory in Monte Isola, Lake Iseo, northern Italy. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. _ an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals _ is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, a man rows a boat along the lake as seen from a terrace of "La Rete" (The Net) factory in Monte Isola, Lake Iseo, northern Italy. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. _ an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals _ is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, a woman works at "La Rete" (The Net) factory in Monte Isola, Lake Iseo, northern Italy. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. _ an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals _ is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, a woman works at "La Rete" (The Net) factory in Monte Isola, Lake Iseo, northern Italy. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. _ an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals _ is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, a woman works at "La Rete" (The Net) factory in Monte Isola, Lake Iseo, northern Italy. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. _ an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals _ is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 through a net made by "La Rete" factory, Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League round of 16, 2nd leg, soccer match between Juventus and Atletico Madrid at the Allianz stadium in Turin, Italy. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. _ an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals _ is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 through a net made by "La Rete" factory, Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo scores on a penalty kick during the Champions League round of 16, 2nd leg, soccer match between Juventus and Atletico Madrid at the Allianz stadium in Turin, Italy. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. _ an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals _ is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, a woman works at "La Rete" (The Net) factory in Monte Isola, Lake Iseo, northern Italy. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. _ an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals _ is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
In this photo taken on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, a woman works at "La Rete" (The Net) factory in Monte Isola, Lake Iseo, northern Italy. Step off the ferry onto Monte Isola and it feels like going back in time. The factory of La Rete S.r.l. _ an old-fashioned producer of nets for soccer goals _ is indeed a throwback. Workers still use their hands to weave the nets that have been used at World Cups stretching back to the 1990 tournament in Italy, throughout Serie A and in recent Champions League finals, too. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
The Associated Press
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