Museo del Castagno e del Borlengo

About the museum

The documentation centre opened in 2000 on the ground floor of the former Ospitale di San Giacomo in Zocca, first mentioned in a document of 1186. The display, curated by the association La Slucadora, tells the story of rural life in the Modena Apennines.

The museum's three rooms trace the history of the chestnut: the side rooms hold tools for tending chestnut groves and processing their products, while the central room presents panels on the tree, its spread, its diseases and grafting, with the “Fantacastagneto” area where children can touch a reconstructed chestnut habitat.

Opposite is the Museo-Laboratorio del Borlengo, with an exhibition room of old pans and farm tools and a workshop where visitors learn to prepare the traditional dish. The website also has sections on ciacio and tigella or crescentina.

Highlights

• History and cultivation of the chestnut
• Tools for chestnut groves
• “Fantacastagneto” area to touch
• Museo-Laboratorio del Borlengo
• Former Ospitale di San Giacomo (documented from 1186)

Founded

2000

Visitors per year

approx. 5,600

Admission & discounts

Rates listed by the Musei Italiani portal (not shown on the website). For nursery schools €4 (half day) or €6 (full day); cheese-making workshop (caciotta, ricotta and parmigiano) €10 per child; treasure hunt €7 per child.

Accessibility

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Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

“Fantacastagneto” area with a habitat to touch; for schools, “I racconti del boscaiolo” is offered, a walk through the chestnut grove (in October with roasted chestnuts), a cheese and ricotta workshop and a team treasure hunt in the woods.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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Plan your visit