Museo colombiano

About the museum

The museum occupies the ground floor of the tower of Pradello, a hamlet of the municipality of Bettola, which local tradition identifies as the home of Christopher Columbus’s family. The tower dates from the Middle Ages (sources date it between the 13th and 14th centuries) and was originally both a defensive and a residential building, about 28 metres tall and surrounded by walled courtyards with gates that could be closed. It was later reduced by five storeys to prevent its collapse and was used for agricultural purposes until 1957.

In 1957 an emigrant from the Piacenza area living in America, Mr Molinari, had it restored and turned it into a museum devoted to Columbus. The ground floor displays documents that testify to the presence of the Colombo family in the area. The sources note that Bettola is cited as the navigator’s place of origin, but that the family had probably already moved to Genoa before his birth.

Highlights

• Medieval stone tower-house, typical of the mountains
• Documents on the presence of the Colombo family in the area
• 1957 restoration initiated by an emigrant from the Piacenza area living in America

Founded

1957

Operated by

Nuovo Comitato di Pradello

Visitors per year

approx. 150

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit