An important testimony to the life and farming culture of the Oltrepò Pavese and a place of interest for those curious about local traditions. The "Museum of Peasant Civilisation" in Montalto Pavese brings together a vast collection of tools and implements from the daily life of the peasants of the Oltrepò Pavese, dating from the end of the 19th century to the early decades of the 20th century.
Inside the museum, visitors can fully immerse themselves in the everyday life of farmers of the past. The exhibition space is organised thematically, with original objects.
The handicraft section
In the 'Museum of Rural Civilisation' in Montalto Pavese, a particularly interesting section is dedicated to local crafts, with an in-depth look at ancient professions. On display are tools and implements used by blacksmiths, carpenters, cobblers and tailors.
On this journey through time, you can admire the tools used by blacksmiths, such as anvils, hammers, tongs and shears, which were indispensable for working metals and creating objects. The carpenter's activity is instead told through the tools, including planes and chisels, used to create furniture, agricultural tools and household objects.
The section dedicated to cobblers tells the story of a trade that required manual skills and attention to detail.
In addition to handicrafts, the museum dedicates a special space to wine production, one of the most important activities in the Oltrepò Pavese area. The tools used for wine-making, such as presses and barrels, are on display to illustrate the process of transforming grapes into fine wines, evidence of the wine-making tradition rooted in the territory. With regard to grapes, the tools used for tending the vines, harvesting and wine production are also on display.
From grape cultivation to wheat cultivation. The exhibition does not fail to celebrate another important agricultural activity in the area by displaying the tools used for sowing and processing wheat.
The valorisation of dialect
What makes the museum collection even more interesting is the fact that each piece is catalogued with its dialect name and its Italian equivalent. This allows museum visitors to fully immerse themselves in the culture and language of the area, with a more complete view of local identity and traditions.
The presence of dialect names alongside Italian terms underlines the importance of preserving and enhancing the linguistic and cultural wealth of the place. A choice made by those who curated the museum to help keep the memory of ancient local traditions alive.
The Museum
The Museum has a history that begins in 1981, when it was created thanks to the collaboration of the local inhabitants. A collaboration that proved essential in preserving and enhancing the memory of rural culture.
The exhibition is housed in an evocative location, inside Villa Illibardi, on the ground floor of the parish rectory. A special and authentic setting to display the collection of tools and instruments from the past.
The setting on the ground floor of the parish rectory also testifies to the link between rural life and religious faith, which were closely intertwined in the life of rural communities.
