The Diocesan Museum of Pontremoli, located beneath the Bishop’s Palace in one of the main squares of the village, was inaugurated on 31 January 2009 thanks to the initiative of Bishop Eugenio Binini. The aim was to preserve and promote the rich religious and artistic heritage of Lunigiana, with works originating from various churches in the area. Pontremoli, already an important centre in the 18th century, was declared a "noble city" by the Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1778 and, after separating from the Diocese of Luni and Sarzana, became an autonomous diocese. This led to the transformation of the Town Hall into the Bishop’s Palace, overlooking the square where the Cathedral is also located. The church became the Cathedral and seat of the Madonna del Popolo, a symbol of the city celebrated on 2 July.
The treasures of the diocesan museum
The museum offers a route divided into thematic sections that retrace the Christian history of Lunigiana. The first section is dedicated to the Middle Ages, illustrating the process of Christianization of the area, with objects such as the cast of the Leodgar tombstone—which "destroyed various pagan idols"—a Stele Statue, and a scale model of the churches and chapels along the Via Francigena.
The second section contains numerous sacred objects used over the centuries by the diocese, including crosses, reliquaries, vestments, and the fascinating Madonne vestite (Dressed Madonnas). At the centre of the museum stands a cast of the symbolic labyrinth, representing pilgrimage and redemption, whose original is housed in the Church of San Pietro.
The Dressed Madonnas
Among the most distinctive objects in the museum are the Madonne vestite—a unique type of statue representing the Madonna and Child with striking realism. These statues, often sculpted only for the face and hands, are completed with elaborate, colourful clothing and sometimes wigs, creating a vivid and lifelike appearance. The Madonna del Popolo, however, is unique in being fully carved, even beneath her robes.
This tradition, particularly popular in the 18th century and declining in the 20th, followed a specific ritual of dressing that could only be performed by women. Today, it is remembered and reinterpreted in the Diocesan Museum of Pontremoli, which preserves its memory.
