The Museum of Peasant and Artisan Civilization of the Middle Piceno Area documents the rural traditions of the town of Ripatransone, preserving evidence of life in the fields and the role of artisan workshops in relation to agricultural activity.
The museum’s collection originated in 1990 thanks to private donations. The initial display was located in the rooms beneath the Ildebrando Malavolta school; in 2014, it was moved to its current home, the former Cardarelli Wine Cellars, occupying an area of 502 square meters.
The exhibition design aims to highlight local traditions, following a chronological sequence from the past to the present to show how evolution and progress have influenced the lifestyles of Ripatransone’s inhabitants.
The exhibition is organized into four main sections: EARTH, WATER, WINE, and BREAD.
EARTH and WATER
A series of wheel-thrown clay vessels, known locally as "Cuccia", showcases the types of pottery found in farmhouses of the era, highlighting their specific regional characteristics and various uses.
WINE
An exhibition of grape-processing tools, ranging from the cart used to transport freshly harvested grapes to the grape crusher, illustrates the various stages of winemaking, leading up to the wine's storage in barrels. Also on display are tools used for subsequent stages such as preservation, bottling, racking, transport, and weighing, as well as a rare separator machine designed to extract grape seeds from the pomace for the production of prized grapeseed oil.
BREAD
A look at the field labor required to bring the staple food, bread, to the table. Various plows demonstrate the evolution of agricultural techniques alongside other grain-processing tools, such as ancient millstones, a combine harvester, and sieves of various sizes. THE FARMHOUSE
At the heart of the museum, a step back in time awaits visitors as they enter a faithful reproduction of a farmhouse.
Key rooms, the kitchen, bedroom, stable, and storeroom, have been recreated to give the impression of a truly lived-in home. Everyday objects such as chopping boards, coffee pots, and cooking pots sit alongside mousetraps, grain roasters, and pasta-cutting frames, all arranged as if the space were still inhabited by men and women working daily to sustain the household.
The journey into the past continues with a visit to the ARTISAN WORKSHOPS. The tailor, cobbler, blacksmith, and carpenter represent just a few of the trades practiced thanks to the fruits of the fields.
Also featured are MEANS OF TRANSPORT, essential both for work and for Sunday outings into town. There are carts of various origins and sizes, colorful donkey yokes, and a "reggia", a wheel-less vehicle used for hauling hay.
A genuine SCHOOLROOM setup includes desks and inkwells, abacuses and notebooks.
Finally, a look at the miniatures, toys, and tools for dyeing fabrics, such as the flaxseed grinder.
Sources and photo:https://www.visitripatransone.it/museo-civilta-contadina-ed-artigiana/