Museo a cielo aperto della memoria contadina molisana

About the museum

The open-air museum of Molise’s rural memory grew out of research begun in the 1980s by the Arx Prandi cultural circle, a group of enthusiasts of ethnography and traditions in Casalciprano. After collecting testimonies and objects on life at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the first of six ethnographic exhibitions, entitled “Superstizioni e credenze popolari” (Superstitions and popular beliefs), was held in 1988.

The experience later became a permanent route, located since 2004 in the historic centre of the village; the official inauguration given by the municipality dates from 2011. The Arx Prandi association, founded in 2006, runs the museum and promotes knowledge of the rural culture of Molise.

The route winds through the alleys and small houses of the old village, which have always been the setting of rural life. Murals, bronze statues and scenes of everyday life tell of the customs, beliefs, rites, faith and superstitions of a hard and difficult world, which the ancestors faced with toil and dignity. The indoor part is the “Soffitta dei Ricordi” (Attic of Memories).

Highlights

• Open-air route through the historic centre with murals and bronze statues
• Scenes of everyday life, rites, beliefs and rural superstitions
• The “Soffitta dei Ricordi”, indoor exhibition space
• Guided tours by appointment
• Games and educational materials for children and young people on the museum’s website

Permanent exhibition

• Percorso del museo a cielo aperto – Route through the old village with murals, bronze statues and scenes of rural life, plus the indoor Soffitta dei Ricordi.

Founded

2004

Operated by

Associazione culturale Arx Prandi

Visitors per year

approx. 2,500

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The route runs through the alleys of the historic centre. The museum offers a “Virtual Room”, a multimedia space designed to let people with disabilities also get to know the area.

Kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

The museum’s website offers interactive games for different age groups (puzzles, memory games, quizzes) and downloadable educational material.

Getting there & parking

By car: from Rome or Naples take the A1 motorway towards Isernia–Campobasso and the Biferno valley road; from Pescara or Bari take the A14 motorway, exit at Termoli, then the Biferno valley road towards Isernia.

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