Consorzio per la promozione turistica della Valchiavenna

Stazione Ferroviaria Chiavenna
Piazza Caduti per la Libertà
23022 Chiavenna (SO)
consorzioturistico@valchiavenna.com

Samolaco Museum: Alpine traditions and culture in Valchiavenna

Valchiavenna

Some places tell the story of entire communities, where every object preserves memories of work, effort and tradition. In Samolaco, inside an ancient tower restored by the municipality, the Ethnographic Museum offers visitors the chance to rediscover the village’s past, exploring daily life in the mountains and the culture of the generations who lived in these valleys.

Details

Established in October 2008 by the Samolaco Library Cultural Association, the museum extends across four raised floors and a basement. Originally conceived as a photographic museum, it preserves illustrated panels dedicated to the history of the village, local traditions, work and life in the mountain pastures, with captions translated into several widely spoken languages to welcome visitors from around the world.

Over time, the collection has grown thanks to objects and tools donated by residents, each accompanied by detailed explanatory notes, transforming the museum into a true treasure chest of ethnographic heritage. Every item tells the story of daily life, traditional occupations and rural customs, creating a tangible connection between past and present.

Thanks to an agreement with the municipality, the museum offers regular opening hours and visits by appointment, allowing visitors to walk among images, objects and memories that continue to tell the story of Samolaco’s identity.

Informations
Samolaco Museum: Alpine traditions and culture in Valchiavenna
Via Culumbée, San Pietro
23027 Samolaco (SO) - Italia
0343 38003
info@comune.samolaco.so.it
Go to the website

Opening Hours
From 1 April to 31 October
Thursday: 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Saturday: 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Infopoint
Consorzio Turistico Valchiavenna
Piazza Caduti per la Libertà, 4
23022 Chiavenna (SO)
0343 37485
consorzioturistico@valchiavenna.com

Picapreda Museum: The History of Stonecutters in Novate Mezzola

Valchiavenna

Some stones are more than just matter: they are memory. In Novate Mezzola, on the shores of the lake of the same name at the gateway to Valchiavenna, granite tells a story of two centuries of hard work, pride and identity. In Piazza Europa, opposite the Town Hall, a small museum preserves this quiet yet powerful heritage.

Details

Here, the images, tools and voices of the picapréda—the stonecutters who shaped the destiny of the village—come back to life. For generations, men and entire families quarried and worked Sanfedelino granite, named after the first quarry, that opened beside the small shrine dedicated to Saint Fidelis, a martyr of 298 AD. From this compact grey stone grew a tradition that would leave its mark far beyond the lake.

Sanfedelino granite travelled far, becoming the paving material for streets and squares in cities such as Milan, Como, Pavia and Bologna. In the five years preceding the First World War alone, more than 82,000 tonnes departed from Novate station for major centres across Northern Italy. Every slab and every block carried the labour of tireless hands.

With the arrival of trams and the first automobiles, cities began to change: raised pavements and safer kerbs became necessary. Once again, Sanfedelino granite supported this transformation, becoming an integral part of urban modernity.

Between the 1920s and the mid-1930s, the quarries reached their peak: around twenty quarry sites, hundreds of workers and an entire community living to the rhythm of hammer striking stone. Then, slowly, decline followed. By the end of the 1960s, almost everything had fallen silent.

Today, only one quarry remains active, but the museum keeps the memory of that world alive. A visit reveals that these stones support more than roads—they support the history and soul of a community.

Informations
Picapreda Museum: The History of Stonecutters in Novate Mezzola
Piazza Europa
23025 Novate Mezzola (SO) - Italia
0343 63040
info@comune.novatemezzola.so.it
Go to the website

Opening Hours
Sunday: 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
By appointment: +39 349 4062212

For guided tours outside regular opening hours, please contact the Municipality of Novate Mezzola at least 3 days before your visit.
For openings on different days and times, contact the Municipality of Novate Mezzola.

Infopoint
Consorzio Turistico Valchiavenna
Piazza Caduti per la Libertà, 4
23022 Chiavenna (SO)
0343 37485
consorzioturistico@valchiavenna.com
  • La Fiorida Agri Relais 0342 680846 lafiorida.com la fiorida agri relais
  • Search in the website