The Museum conserves and exhibits numerous objects-over three thousand five hundred- which make up the collection of local and extra regional ethnographic and anthropological history.
This collection was donated mainly by the eclectic naturalist, musician, citizen, ethnographer from La Spezia, Giovanni Podenzana (1864-1943) who built up this collection between the years 1891 to 1936. For nearly thirty years he dedicated himself to anthropological research visiting Australia, Tasmania, New Guinea, Fiji Islands, Japan and North America bringing home many examples of the culture of these peoples.
At the beginning of the twentieth century G. Podenzana give up traveling to far-away countries and dedicated himself to Lunigiana, his territory, to the customs and traditions of his people, in particular to the pastoral- agricultural communities of the middle and upper areas of Val di Magra. Significant is the collection of products of female labor and traditional jewels. A ‘rotation exhibit’ is going to be soon on release in order to show a greater number of pieces
Via del Prione 156
19121 La Spezia SP
Italy