City Museum

The Museum of the City of Bobbio, which can be visited by appointment, is located at the Abbey of San Colombano. Set up in the rooms of the monastery originally used as a refectory, kitchens and hand basins and basements with access from the porch of the large cloister of the monastery. The rooms belong to the oldest nucleus of the abbey built by the abbot Agilulfon in the 9th century. Today it is difficult to imagine the ancient paths of prayer, work and study of the monks of San Colombano. The ancient unity of the monastic complex was in fact compromised by the repeated architectural interventions carried out over the centuries. The City Museum in addition to restoring the oldest rooms of the monastery to public use, traces the history of one of the most important centers of culture and spirituality in medieval Europe and prepares for a visit to the abbey and the city of Bobbio. The museum set-up, consisting of transparent exhibitors, which dealt with issues related to the life and work of San Colombano, the geopolitical situation of Lombard Italy and the activity of the famous Scriptorium was transferred to the corridor of the monastery. Above the entrance portal is a warning from the rule of San Colombano: Ne quid nimis (nothing too much, no excess) which reminded the monks to be sparing with food. On the upper sides of the portal there are two apotropaic heads, one original from the 13th century, the other opposite in copy.

I entered convinced to see the Mazzolini collection, deceived by the posters outside the doors. Unfortunately this only opens on Sundays by reservation !!! The very beautiful Abbey, like the adjacent church. The museum of the city is absolutely scandalous: in the first room there is a fake furniture / library, and in the corner an (original?) Writing desk with a small shelf where vials are stored to simulate what was. In the second basement room, there is a collection of minerals similar to the one I had had as a child and a photographic exhibition consisting of large black and white posters engraved with photographs. It is absolutely not worth the 3,00 euro of the ticket, considering also the closed toilets !!!

To inaugurate the beautiful Museum of the City of Bobbio, Stefano Bonaccini, President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, together with the Mayor Roberto Pasquali, the historian and art expert Philippe Daverio, Giangiacomo Schiavi, a journalist formerly deputy director of Corriere della Sera and to the Bishop of Piacenza-Bobbio and Abbot of San Colombano Mons. Gianni Ambrosio. Remembering San Colombano, one of the pillars of European history.

The museum is entering through the cloister next to the Abbey. The museum did not call my attention.

To visit, by calling first for schedules and methods