A 16th century inn representing the original building (Tavern plus two adjoining floors) known as ‘Palàzz’, was rebuilt in 1777 and restored as recently as 2002, becoming the Museum base.
The Museum of the Via Spluga bears splendid witness to local history, featuring documents, works of art and literature regarding the ancient route, its trade and postal history. Among the exhibits are official contracts for transport and commerce dating from the 18th century – including an impressive Daily Ledger of a Chiavenna-based forwarding agent (1752-1768), maps of the period and original printed matter including the complete series of Meyer (Zurich, 1825), Lose (Milan, 1825) and Calvaert and Cole (London 1826) portraying the Spluga and the recently-created road (1822) in historical accounts, literature (il Passo’ sublime’ Erhaben) and artworks by many illustrious travellers (Leonardo da Vinci, Erasmus of Rotterdam, Gessner, Goethe, Turner, Einstein among others).
The section dedicated to modes of transport forms part of that devoted to craftsmanship and traditional employment in the valley, among which ‘grapàtt’ (grappa producer), quarrymen, timber working, and wood and iron crafts are prominent.
Especially noteworthy is the faithful reproduction of the environment of the period using authentic materials: a complete 16th/17th century kitchen for example and four ‘stüe’ one of which is decorated and dated 1576, at one time the Local Council base, now devoted to the history and institutions of the valley; of the other three – all 18th century, one is concentrated on the history of Palàzz and Governance, further ones to the Abbot Foppoli, to typical families and characters of the valley.
Other sections are devoted to women at work, childhood games, mountaineering, winter sports, tourism. geology, minerals, environmental issues, plants, archaeology, and an educational studio on the theme of ‘Water Power’.
“Eleonora, are you ready to turn?” I position myself astride the daggerboard in the centre of the hull, keeping my torso parallel to the surface of the water with my head well down I reply: “I’m ...
Six-legged excursions. Guide to the Pathways of Valchiavenna, quite possibly with a dog for company.
Can you recommend a hike? My project to produce the guide “Valchiavenna ...
With Giacomo Gandini’s story, we are introducing a new feature to our magazine, dedicated to stories that intertwine memory, nature and tradition inspired by the Alpine territory. This first story, entitled “The ...
Informazioni ex art. 1, comma 125, della legge 4 agosto 2017 n. 124
Relativamente agli aiuti di Stato e aiuti de Minimis, si rimanda a quanto contenuto nel
“Registro nazionale degli aiuti di Stato” di cui all’articolo 52 L. 234/2012 (www.rna.gov.it).
