On 26, 27 and 28 April 2024, over 3,000 people appeared in the small structure in via Calderisi 34, including a group of n. 40 scouts from the Assoraider Andria 1 “Kairos” Company, right in the historic center, so much so that the guides were pleased to extend the closing time until midnight, initially scheduled until 9.00 pm. Many visitors wanted to sign the attendance book, and many left feedback underlining how much the visit had awakened in them a feeling of historical and cultural belonging, so much so that many visitors wanted to donate memorabilia to further enrich the museum. The rooms, a cellar, once used as a stable and home, and now expertly renovated by the owner Nicola Scialandrone, host a selection of objects and artefacts representative of the local peasant culture and arts and crafts starting from the 19th century, and still alive until to over the middle of the 20th century. In parallel with the museum of Rural Civilization, the exhibition of agricultural objects and equipment was set up in the courtyard of the “Lotti-Umberto I” Agricultural Technical Institute, the purpose of which was to compare the agricultural-pastoral civilization of the past and current progress. This initiative also had an enormous success given the large turnout of visitors. This opening was also an opportunity to raise awareness of the products of the agricultural company and the training offer of the Agricultural Technical Institute of Andria.
The visits, led by volunteers from the Terzo Millennio, Formazione Lavoro & Sviluppo and Fra Storia e Natura Associations, were a splendid opportunity for dialogue with the visitors, many of whom remembered having seen firsthand the exhibited objects used by their parents or from grandparents. Everyone’s awareness of the importance of making the traditional peasant culture of these areas known to even the youngest people, who have not had the opportunity to interact with it, has emerged, and many have expressed the hope that it will be possible, in the short term, to organize attendance of the small museum by school groups. The cellar itself, with the well and the cistern for collecting rainwater visible, has been the object of admiration and reflection on how much ingenuity and beauty can be found in the houses of the historic center of Andria, and on how important it would be for there was a strong commitment on the part of the administrations and citizens to restore, renovate and enhance an urban and social heritage that is being lost, and which has nothing to envy of more well-known historical centers frequented by citizens and tourists in other parts of the Belpaese and our own Region. There are many projects, events and initiatives that we have planned and that we would like to share with you. Thanks to all those who, with competence, passion and generosity, contributed to the success of the initiative by unanimously contributing to the recognition of these sites as a precious reality in our municipality. For all those who have expressed the desire to donate ancient objects and anything else they deem appropriate to enrich the museum, they can contact the Terzo Millennio Onlus Association at n.0883/892906.
