Museo dei grandi fiumi

The Museum of the Long Rivers that belongs to the Civic Administration of Rovigo, was officially opened on 20th April 2001. It continues and develops the activity of the former Civic Museum of Polesine Civilizations, founded in 1978. It has been using and evaluating the old Olivetan Monastery of Saint Bartholomew, since a complex and radical restoration work took place. The Monastery was founded in the 13th century and was abolished in the time of Napoleon. Between the 16th and 17th century the existence of the Olivetan Order allowed the widening of the building to the present dimension, with two cloisters - one of which houses a beautiful well curb - and two courtyards. It is one of the most important architectonical complexes of Rovigo and Polesine.
The new Museum is meant to be inserted in a plan of promotion of Polesine. It highlights the history and environment peculiarities of the territory of the province of Rovigo - hemmed in between the final stretches of the longest Italian rivers and characterized by the Po Delta. It opens a proactive dialogue and a constructive cooperation with local, Italian and European cultural institutions concerned with river environments and deltaic areas. It is an innovative Museum that uses advanced technologies to communicate information to the public: in fact, beside the traditional series of glass cases and archaeological finds, there are virtual reconstructions, computers, stage settings, dioramas and scale models that take the visitors to an imaginary journey through the basic stages of their history.