Museo dell'Homo Salvadego
Museum | Sacco | Campania | Italy
The Museo dell'Homo Selvadego is located in a historic building near the parish church of Sacco, a district of Cosio Valtellino in the province of Sondrio, Lombardy. The building, once used as a stable and barn, now houses this unique museum.
Architecture and Interior
On the first floor of the museum is the so-called "Camera Picta," a room whose walls are completely covered with frescoes. These frescoes were created on May 18, 1464 by the painters Batestinus and Simon, depicting a variety of decorative motifs, floral patterns, and inscriptions in Gothic letters, both in Latin and in vernacular language. Among the figurative representations is one particularly remarkable: a hairy man with a flowing beard, armed with a gnarled stick, who describes himself as "homo salvadego per natura." This representation is one of the most beautiful documented depictions of the "Homo Selvadego," a figure of Alpine mythology that is considered a symbol of the peasant culture of the Alpine region.
Collections and Exhibitions
In addition to the "Camera Picta," the museum offers other exhibition spaces that deal with the spread of similar architectural and artistic expressions in the Alpine regions. The museum is part of the Ecomuseo della Valgerola and was acquired in 1988 by the Comunità Montana Valtellina di Morbegno, which restored it and converted it into a specialized museum.
Significance and Visit
The Museo dell'Homo Selvadego offers a unique insight into Alpine culture and mythology and is a significant cultural heritage of the region. It is a place of education and cultural exchange, giving visitors the opportunity to learn more about the history and traditions of the Valtellina.
