Romagnese, located in the area of the Apennines that embraces the provinces of Alessandria, Genoa, Pavia and Piacenza, is home to the 'Museum of the Lombardy Apennines of the Four Provinces'.
The museum, housed in the tower of Dal Verme Castle, which is also the seat of the municipality, represents a valuable historical memory for the local community.
History and reorganisation of the museum
Founded in 1997 as a scattered collection of objects donated by local families, the museum underwent a complete reorganisation in 2019. Thanks to this restructuring, the exhibition was made interactive and inaugurated with a name that reflects its vocation to represent the four provinces of the Lombardy Apennines. The museum is dedicated to the preservation and display of tools, implements and machinery once used in the agricultural and craft world of the area.
The treasures on display
Many important objects can be admired in its rooms, including historical artefacts that tell the story of everyday life in the past. A corner of a peasant kitchen, a shoemaker's bench and machine, a bicycle used by a knife sharpener and an old barber's bench with all the necessary tools for beards and hair are just some of the exhibits that take visitors back to a bygone era. Antique typewriters, agricultural tools, various types of stoves and bed heaters, carpentry tools and various types of saws are also part of the collection.
Hammers, chisels and tools used by farmers to plough the land are proudly displayed, bearing witness to the traditions and hard work of past generations. A saw for cutting wooden planks reminds us that at least once a year lumberjacks from Trentino came to these lands to cut logs for furniture.
A small section of the museum on the upper floor also houses a collection of artefacts from the two World Wars.
A journey through time
A cultural heritage of inestimable value for the community of Romagnese, the museum offers a unique opportunity to discover the cultural roots of the Lombardy Apennines and to appreciate the craft and agricultural heritage that has shaped the lives of the people of these lands.
The castle, the fascinating setting
Still with its original Guelph battlements, the tower of Dal Verme Castle, which houses the museum, offers a fascinating and evocative setting for exploring the various exhibitions and themed areas. The fortress has a history rooted in the early Middle Ages. Back in 1383, the feud on which the manor stands was purchased by the famous condottiere Jacopo Dal Verme. It was his family, during the 14th and 15th centuries, who decided to build a new castle on top of the previous one, thus giving the complex the name it bears today. The building, with its probable U-shaped plan and the main entrance facing north, today appears as an imposing trapezoidal quadrilateral in exposed stone
It is in this context, reminding us of a history steeped in legends and stories of nobles, that the Museum of the Lombardy Apennines of the Four Provinces reveals itself to be a place of knowledge, discovery and wonder. An invitation to immerse oneself in the history and culture of Romagnese and the surrounding provinces.
