Carnival Mask Museum

Museo della Maschera del Carnevale

In the heart of Castelnovo di Sotto, located inside the historic Municipal Fortress (Rocca Municipale), the Carnival Mask Museum is a fully fledged documentation and research centre that tells the thousand-year-old history of carnival masks and local traditional festivals.

Opened in 2007, the museum houses a precious collection of 222 items, including masks, original plaster models, and antique metal moulds.
These pieces bear witness to the historic artisan mask factory founded by Prospero Guatteri in 1810, which remained active until 1933.
The collection was further enriched in 2002 by a bequest from the collector Eugenio Gabrielli, making this exhibition truly unique on the national stage.

The exhibition is organised into themed rooms that illustrate:

• the history of the Castelnovo di Sotto Carnival, from the ancient folk masquerades and the early theatrical forms of the nineteenth century to the parades of allegorical floats in the twentieth century;

• the techniques of creating masks, through plaster moldings, metal molds and fabric masks, which show the art and skill of master craftsmen;

• the evolution of the parades, floats and theatrical performances, with a section dedicated to the “Il Carnevale” Cooperative Society, which today continues the tradition alive with spectacular and engaging shows.

Through informative displays, models and multimedia resources, visitors can discover about the various stages of the craft, appreciate the refinement of the masks and immerse themselves in the local festive culture, which combines tradition, art and entertainment.

The museum also serves as a research centre, documenting and preserving all materials related to the Carnival, offering an educational and cultural experience for adults, families and school groups.
The Carnival Mask Museum is therefore an unmissable stop for anyone wishing to discover the artistic ingenuity of local craftsmen and the history of a festival that, over the centuries, has brought together community, tradition and spectacle in Emilia-Romagna.