Carnival Mask Museum

• In the heart of Castelnovo di Sotto, inside the historic Municipal Rocca, the Carnival Mask Museum is a real centre for documentation and research that tells the thousand-year history of carnival masks and traditional local festivals.
  Opened in 2007, the museum houses a valuable collection of 222 items, including masks, original plaster models and ancient metal moulds, bearing witness to the historic artisan mask-making workshop founded by Prospero Guatteri in 1810, which remained in operation until 1933. The collection was enriched in 2002 with the bequest of the collector Eugenio Gabrielli, making the exhibition unique on the national scene.

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.