
In the heart of the Pavia Apennines, Menconico is one of those villages where time seems to slow down, where traditions survive among the ancient stones and memories of past generations. It is no coincidence that it is here that the Museum of Mountain Farming Civilisation and Local Traditions was born, an authentic space that recounts the life, work and cultural identity of the people of the Four Provinces.
A museum born from the land, for the land
The museum is located in the town hall square, next to the Church of San Giorgio, a small but imposing building overlooking the valley. The entrance is in the gallery below the church, right next to the town hall, where a permanent exhibition has been set up that brings together around 200 objects including agricultural tools and domestic implements used by mountain farmers.
Thanks to the active participation of the inhabitants of the area, this space has become a veritable archive of collective memory, documenting uses, customs and survival techniques that have almost disappeared today but are fundamental to understanding the past of the Oltrepò Pavese.
A journey through tools, faces and mountain stories
In the museum, one can admire tools for working the fields, for animal husbandry and for daily household management. The historical photographs on display depict people from the valley intent on their everyday activities, often accompanied by their work tools: a living and direct testimony of mountain culture.
These are not just objects, but fragments of a civilisation that has stood the test of time and is now recounted through a simple, yet profoundly meaningful journey.
How to visit the museum
📍 Museum of Mountain Farming and Local Traditions
📌 Piazza del Municipio, Menconico (PV), under the church of San Giorgio
🕰️ Opening times on request – contact the Municipality for openings and visits
📞 Municipality of Menconico
🛣️ Accessible by car from Varzi (15 km), along the SP88 road
♿ Disabled accessibility: not specified
ℹ️ Nearest tourist information centre: municipal headquarters