Museum of Water

Asiago

The Water Museum tells of the long relationship between this element and the Altopiano dei Sette Comuni, a karstic territory where, despite copious rainfall, this element is scarce. Water is the common thread that brings together topics ranging from geology to social, history and ethics. In fact, water is an essential good, like air, for life on Earth, so the Museum explores the many aspects of the relationship between man and the environment around this leitmotif: starting from the morphology of the territory, retracing the uses and habits connected to the use and management of this resource over time; delving into the scientific aspects and promoting a culture of water as an indispensable resource and common good and not as a commodity.

The visit

A visit to the Museum offers the opportunity to address various aspects of the water-man-environment relationship. Water, for example, as the generating force of a fascinating underground landscape, which has, however, conditioned the lives of the Plateau's inhabitants: systems and artefacts have been built to keep water on the surface to allow settlements and animal breeding, but also to harness its power. But water also as play and fun: when it snows or freezes, all winter sports can be practised, thanks to which tourism in this area has developed. And legends linked to the conformation of the land with caves and springs that survive in oral tales, but also in place names of Cimbrian origin. The museum is completed by an educational trail in the surrounding area, which allows visitors to integrate what they have learnt at the museum in the field, and offers temporary exhibitions, lectures and workshops for younger visitors.

The history

The Water Museum was born from an idea of the Gruppo Speleologico Settecomuni (G.S.S.) of Asiago, which took care of the project and fundraising, and now continues to implement and manage it. The G.S.S. is an association that was born, lives and operates directly on a karst plateau and, in over forty years of history, has carried out numerous studies that explain the link between this territory and water.

In the 1990s, the group proposed its project to local administrators to create a museum dedicated to these themes and, after several attempts, we were given the opportunity to occupy the “Possesione Kaberlaba”, in the municipality of Asiago, while enhancing this site. The structure consists of an old farmhouse and a large area of pastureland and woodland, which was renovated thanks to a European Community grant for the ‘Water Museum’ project. The surrounding spaces allowed us to create an educational trail back in 2005, while in May 2009, the house was handed over to us as the future permanent home of the museum. After a month, the museum opened to the public and, since then, the Gruppo Speleologico Settecomuni has guaranteed around 150 opening days per year in addition to midweek visits by appointment.

Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays: 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

July, August and Christmas holidays: daily from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Closed: 25 December and 1 January.

Visits with guide by appointment only (minimum 10 paying persons)

€ 4.00 full price

€ 3.00 concessions (6 to 18 years and over 65; university students with a valid university card);

Free: children up to the age of 6, disabled persons with accompanying person; group guides, teachers and interpreters in the exercise of their profession.

Trail length: Free (without guide)

Tel. 0424 463170

E-mail:info@museodellacqua7comuni.it

Sito web: http://www.museodellacqua7comuni.it/

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