Garfagnana’s must-see museums

Nestled between the Apuan Alps and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, Garfagnana offers multiple opportunities for those who love nature and outdoor activities. But that’s not all. In this territory, rich in history and traditions, there are also some museums that we recommend you visit and that, we are sure, will pleasantly surprise you.

What are the must-see museums in Garfagnana? Let’s find out together!

Museum of the Identity of Alta Garfagnana Olimpio Cammelli

In Gorfigliano, a hamlet of the municipality of Minucciano, is the Museum of the Identity of Alta Garfagnana Olimpio Cammelli, dedicated to the material culture of the Garfagnana territory. It was inaugurated on May 16, 2009 to house equipment and everyday objects (more than 1,300 pieces) collected by Olimpio Cammelli, one of the volunteers who participated in the renovation of the Old Church of Gorfigliano in 1983. Over time it has since been enriched with other artifacts, reaching more than 3,000 pieces. The heart of the museum is the room where objects related to traditional crafts of the past are displayed: marble quarryman, blacksmith, farmer, shepherd, shoemaker, woodcutter and many others.

Don Luigi Pellegrini Ethnographic Museum

In San Pellegrino in Alpe, an ancient village located 1525 meters above sea level, you can visit the Don Luigi Pellegrini Ethnographic Museum, set up in the very old structure of the “old hospice” (11th – 12th century). Created by Don Luigi Pellegrini with the aim of bearing witness to a rural civilization that has now almost disappeared, it holds one of the most important collections of material culture objects in central Italy. The exhibits, from Garfagnana and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, cover a time span from the early 19th century to the present. Also reconstructed inside are living and working environments (the kitchen, the cellar, the cobbler’s store, etc.).

Garfagnana Gothic Line Museum

History buffs, particularly of World War II, should not miss the Garfagnana Gothic Line Museum, which collects both war and subsistence materials from the armies involved, as well as documents, photos, maps, and accounts of the conflict in Garfagnana. Its purpose is to keep the memory of the past alive among new generations. Housed in the premises of the former Don Bosco elementary school in Molazzana, it is managed by the Linea Gotica Garfagnana Committee. Of particular interest is the room dedicated to Lieutenant Assault Glider Pilot of the National Republican Air Force Ivano Guidi, where part of the artifacts of aircraft that fell in Garfagnana are on display.

Civic Collection of Renaissance Ceramics

Also undoubtedly worth a visit is the Civic Collection of Renaissance Ceramics in Camporgiano, a small village located on the right bank of the Serchio River. The collection is displayed in the main tower of the medieval Rocca degli Estensi, built around the 15th century by the powerful family of Ferrara. The precious ceramics, which can be dated from the late Middle Ages to the Renaissance, mostly come from the butto wells of the fortress emptied during restoration work carried out in the 1970s. A small part of the collection, on the other hand, was recovered from Nicciano, a hamlet in the municipality of Piazza al Serchio.

Italian Museum of Folkloric Imagery

Finally, you cannot miss the Italian Museum of Folkloric Imagery, located in San Michele, a hamlet of the municipality of Piazza al Serchio. It is a veritable treasure chest of memories related to folk traditions and folklore. Opened in 2019, it collects a large number of unpublished tales (including fairy tales, myths, legends, beliefs, superstitions, rituals and folk songs) from different Italian regions that the local Centro di Documentazione della Tradizione Orale (Documentation Center of Oral Tradition) has recorded over the years. Special attention is given to the “dramatic may,” a fascinating form of sung folk theater that is widespread in the Serchio Valley and surrounding areas.

Photo Gallery © Museum of the Identity of Alta Garfagnana Olimpio Cammelli – Ministry of Culture – Garfagnana Gothic Line Museum