Museum of Vetralla
In 1991, Enrico Guidoni and Elisabetta De Minicis proposed a national, regional, and local project to implement a new system of museums. The Museum of Vetralla, a prototype, was created in 1992, in Piazza Don Pallini. The museum sits in a medieval tower via Cassia 36. In 2008, the city of Vetralla donated the museum to the University of Tuscia.
The Museum of Vetralla particularly focuses on the historical centers of Tuscia. The goal is to be scientific, informational and educational, avant-garde, catering especially to professionals (architects, restorers, archaeologists, historians, cultural workers, students, etc..) and to individuals interested in the culture and the protection of its assets.
The museum, installed in the circuit of museums in anthropological character of the Lazio Region, aims to maintain records of privileged themes such as environmental history, land, old centers, (with particular attention to the medieval and industrial archeology), history of art and architecture, history and techniques of traditional crafts more construction-related.
The historic building which houses the museum, purchased in 1991, is the ancient Tower of Porta Marina built in the fifteenth century to defend the north-western part of the medieval walls. Part of the wall is still visible today.
The museum is spread over three levels, partly place into excavated tufa rock, giving the museum different thematic sections. Upstairs the exhibition and conference room are located, which houses the Ceramics of Vetralla section, this collection is composed with a few windows; it also shows items of Checco Lallo (Felice Ricci), the last ceramic artisan from Vetralla, who died recently. In the Ceramic-Lazio section (a collection of popular ceramics of upper and lower Lazio), the bricks section (composed by samples of tiles, roof tiles, and bricks), and Steal-metals section (a collection of tools and products, including those of the ironworks and copper-works from Ronciglione) are located in the middle floor and also on the ramp that leads to the lower floor. The Wood section (a collection of folk objects and tools from various regions of Italy) is located at the ramp that provides access to the upper floor and on two levels of the circular tower. The Masonry/Stone section (a collection of tools, construction, and building items) is found on the lower floor. Finally, a Cantinone (large cellar), entirely excavated in the tufa stone, was equipped with tools for processing and storing wine. The Cantinone has a rich collection of barrels and a window that contains objects related to antiquity and wine. In the reception room there is a pit of wheat, used as a "dump", models from medieval architecture (the walls of Vetralla, Barbarano Romano, Vitorchiano, Tarquinia), and some urban reproductions (Blera, Vetralla) completing the furnishing of the museum.
The museum is directed by Elisabetta De Minicis, University of Tuscia (VT) and has the collaboration of "Vetralla Cittą d’arte" (Vetralla city of art), the Publishing House David Ghaleb and the non-profit organization Association Diva Cassia for the many cultural events and exhibitions they host.
Open for schools and guided tours on request (0761 471694; 0761 477042; 3932127125)
