VALSESIA is a land of museums. They are like a fabric covering each municipality throughout the valley. In the framework of the HABITAT project-Towards a cultural park in Valsesia, the idea was born to also take into account smaller realities, in order to share experiences, join forces and highlight the peculiarities and cultural characteristics of each one of them in a coordinated way. The small and numerous museums present in the area represent indeed a significant element in this regard, as among the aims of the project the leverage of cultural characteristics of Valsesia plays a prominent role.

Art, history, nature, traditions are some of the themes developed by the small Valsesian museums, which are widely scattered throughout the territory and fully connected with the social fabric surrounding them. They really are a precious treasure both for local communities and for tourists and constitute an important resource for local development.

For this reason, in summer 2023, on the initiative of “Carlo Conti” Archaeological and Paleontological Museum of Borgosesia, a first network of contacts among these entities was set up. Three days of joint openings were organized (in July, August and September), in which visitors had the opportunity to discover and appreciate remarkable collections.

A map aimed at guiding users among the large number of museum structures part of the project was also produced.

It was a precious opportunity to illustrate a cross-section of Valsesian art, history and tradition. All these initiatives were possible thanks to the collaboration with the Mountain Union of Valsesia Municipalities – which sponsored and followed the project- and to the availability of municipal administrations, parishes, associations and private entities. They all took part in this first step of creating ties with the shared aim of promoting and enhancing the cultural heritage of the Valley.

The museums of Lower Valsesia joint opening day in July, in addition to the “Conti” Museum, involved: Serravalle Sesia “Don Florindo Piolo” Museum, Guardabosone Museum of Natural History, Postua Parish Museum, Civiasco “Ercole Durio Da Roc” Museum, Valduggia “Antica Fonderia di Campane A. Mazzola 1403”, Doccio “Casimiro Debiaggi” Plaster Cast gallery, the Montrigone press in Borgosesia, and in Quarona the “Ca ‘ ‘d l’Amis” and the Parish Museum.

15 museums took part in the second joint opening day on August 13^th , dedicated to the museums of Alta Valsesia: Alagna (Pedemonte) Walser Museum, Alagna (Alpe Fum Bitz) Casa del Parco, Alagna (Rebernardo), Walser Museum, Boccioleto Museum of sacred art, Borgosesia C. Conti Museum, Campertogno Parish Museum, Carcoforo Naturalistic Museum, Fobello Carestia-Tirozzo Museum and Puncetto Museum, Mollia Ecomuseum Mulino Fucina and Casa Belli, Alto Sermenza (Rima locality) “Della Vedova” Plaster Cast Gallery and Museum- Rima artificial marble laboratory, Rimella Walser Museum and “Filippa” Museum.

The third joint opening day (September 24^th 2023) involved more than 20 small museums as well as many cultural events organized in the framework of 2023 European Heritage Days.