CULTURE

Mel Civic Archaeological Museum

A journey into the history of the ancient Veneti

The Mel Civic Archaeological Museum is a cultural landmark: it houses unique artifacts, but above all, it highlights the long history of the local community by placing it within the broader tapestry of European civilizations.

Visiting this museum means immersing yourself in a narrative that begins with the earliest hunter-gatherer communities, passes through the era of the Ancient Veneti and the Roman period, and extends all the way to the Middle Ages, offering visitors a profound glimpse into the history of these valleys.

In the heart of Borgo Valbelluna lies the Mel Civic Archaeological Museum, housed in the elegant Palazzo delle Contesse. The building, a stately 17th-century Venetian villa recognizable by its traditional Venetian “pine cone” chimneys, is in itself a small architectural gem. Since 1996, this prestigious palace has served as a museum, housing artifacts of extraordinary value that chronicle over forty thousand years of history, from the earliest Paleolithic settlements to medieval remains. The establishment of the museum was strongly supported by the local community and local governments, which worked in close collaboration with the Superintendency to breathe new life into the artifacts unearthed primarily from the excavations of the pre-Roman necropolis of Mel, one of the most important sites in the Veneto region and northern Italy regarding the Iron Age.

The exhibition spans several floors and takes visitors on a true journey through time:

• First Floor
Here you’ll find the oldest artifacts: a core and a Levallois flake crafted by Neanderthals more than 40,000 years ago, a Bronze Age axe blade, and other artifacts that reveal how these valleys have been inhabited and traversed since ancient times. The same room also houses medieval artifacts from Mel and Cesana, documenting the vitality of settlements, castles, and places of worship throughout the Middle Ages. Dominating the section, however, is the striking reproduction of the silver patera from Castelvint, a late-antique masterpiece associated with the Lombards: a ritual plate featuring mythological scenes, a testament to a transitional era in which the Roman world and the new “barbarian” cultures intertwined.

• Second Floor
The two rooms house the main sections of the collection.
The first is dedicated to the necropolis of the Ancient Veneti, discovered in 1958 and systematically excavated by the scholar Giulia Fogolari with the assistance of her assistant Giovanni Battista Frescura. On display are grave goods that tell the story of a thriving community between the 8th and 5th centuries BCE, featuring situlae, fibulae, amber and glass paste ornaments, household items, and weapons: a heritage that paints a picture of a people connected to the major centers of the plain and to transalpine cultures.
The second room, on the other hand, focuses on the Roman era: here visitors can see the remains of the settlement at Ciopa, a cistern well, and numerous artifacts from daily life—ranging from pottery to oil lamps—along with a rich collection of coins that attest to commercial activity along the Piave Valley and the area’s strategic role as a hub connecting the plains and the mountains.

• Third Floor
This floor is dedicated to education and interaction: the conference room features videos on experimental archaeology that allow visitors to observe the craft techniques of the ancient Veneti up close, transforming the visit into an immersive and engaging experience suitable for all ages.

A must-see destination for anyone wishing to discover, alongside the natural and architectural beauty of Valbelluna, the ancient roots that have shaped its soul.
You can visit the museum on your own or with a guide. We also organize workshops and activities for children and schools.