Museo dei Cordai
Small ethnographic museum in Castelponzone on rope-making: historic tools, ropes, photographs, videos and a large crank wheel.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum preserves the memory of rope-making, a social phenomenon that for at least two centuries shaped Castelponzone, a hamlet of Scandolara Ravara and the historic seat of the Ponzone counts, and involved most of its inhabitants. Rope production became an important activity from the mid-19th century, peaked in the first half of the 20th century and declined after the Second World War with the arrival of industrial production and synthetic fibres. Hemp and later sisal were worked; the rigging of the transatlantic liner Rex, launched in 1931, came from the village.
The exhibition presents a complete series of tools from different eras, ropes of various kinds and objects made from rope, together with historic photographs of ropemakers at work and videos made by the last generation of ropemakers. At the centre of the route is a large crank wheel, with which the twisting of the individual strands can be observed and tried out; the older ropemakers demonstrate the process.
The museum offers educational activities mainly for primary and lower-secondary schools; upper-secondary schools can book guided visits with a historical, ethnographic and technological focus. Practical workshops on the history, making and uses of rope are also planned.
Highlights
- Complete series of historic ropemakers' tools
- Large crank wheel for trying out rope twisting
- Ropes and objects made from rope
- Historic photographs and videos of ropemakers at work
- Demonstrations by the older ropemakers
- Workshops and guided visits for schools
Permanent exhibition
- La lavorazione della corda – Historic tools, ropes, photographs and videos of the ropemakers of Castelponzone, with a large crank wheel to try out the process.
- Visitors per year
- approx. 194
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
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | For schools, educational activities and practical workshops; upper-secondary schools can book guided visits arranged with their teachers. |
