Raccolta archeologica e naturalistica «Ugo Fantelli»

About the museum

The collection arose from the donation by the Fantelli family to the municipality of Mede, in memory of their son Ugo, who died prematurely in 1967. The objects were gathered by the family during journeys to various parts of the world, especially in Saharan regions.

The collection is housed in the Castello Sangiuliani, in Piazza della Repubblica, bought by the municipality in 1996 and now home to the municipal library and civic museums. It comprises around a thousand pieces, divided into a natural history section, with mineralogical, zoological and palaeontological collections, and an archaeological and ethnographic section, with 780 stone tools from Saharan prehistory and some ethnographic objects still in use by desert communities.

The route is arranged in three rooms: the first with terrestrial and marine specimens and rocks and minerals; the second with a collection of fossils from the Sahara and from the Monte Bolca deposit; the third with stone artefacts and ethnographic objects. With the 2023 redevelopment the spaces were reduced in size and four interactive wooden games were added for children.

Highlights

• Around a thousand pieces among minerals, shells, fossils and artefacts
• 780 stone tools from Saharan prehistory
• Fossils from the Sahara and from the Monte Bolca deposit
• Desert ethnographic objects, such as grinding stones and shell jewellery
• Interactive wooden games for the youngest visitors

Permanent exhibitions

• Sala 1 – Raccolta terrestre, marina e mineralogica – Faunal and botanical specimens, shells, rocks and minerals.
• Sala 2 – Collezione di fossili – Fossils from Saharan regions and from the Monte Bolca deposit.
• Sala 3 – Manufatti e lavorazioni in pietra preistorica – Stone tools from the Sahara and ethnographic objects still in use in desert communities.

Operated by

Comune di Mede

Visitors per year

approx. 2,000

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Four interactive wooden games for the youngest visitors, and the “mappa dell’archeologo Diogo”, a trail for hunting for finds.

Getting there & parking

The collection is in the Castello Sangiuliani, Piazza della Repubblica 39, in the centre of Mede.

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