Museums
The Association runs several ethnographic museums displaying artefacts and agricultural tools from bygone eras.
The Val Codera Museum of History, Ethnography and Natural History showcases the unique natural environment and human history of the Val Codera – the only valley in Lombardy without road access, yet permanently inhabited – through exhibition sections spread across several venues in the two ancient villages of Codera and San Giorgio, which can only be reached on foot.
Historical, Ethnographic and Natural History Museum
In Codera, on the ground floor of the Casa di Valle and in two historic buildings in the village, the museum is divided into several thematic sections dedicated to the history, daily life and traditions of Val Codera. Opened in May 2011 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Association, the museum preserves exhibits related to the home, including traditional furniture, tools and household objects; textile fibre processing, with old looms; livestock farming and cheese-making; the old school; and local craftsmanship.
Another section is dedicated to mineralogy, featuring valuable specimens found in the valley, including aquamarine and garnet. Particular importance is given to the chestnut-growing tradition, as chestnut trees were a vital source of food and livelihood for Alpine communities for centuries. The chestnut section includes tools, detailed explanations and examples of the many uses of this valuable natural resource, which is especially abundant in Val Codera.
San Giorgio Museum
In San Giorgio, since 2005, the Associazione Amici della Val Codera has acquired and restored a disused stable and hayloft, which now serve as the local branch of the Historical, Ethnographic and Natural History Museum of Val Codera. The exhibits have been donated by local families, and the collection continues to grow, making the museum a shared home where the people of the valley preserve and pass on their cultural heritage.
The “San Giorgio racconta” project was launched in 2023, thanks to the meeting of two shared goals: the Associazione Amici della Val Codera’s commitment to finding new ways to enhance and promote the valley, and the support of Pro Valtellina, a local community foundation that also provides financial assistance for initiatives aimed at protecting, preserving and making accessible the artistic and historical heritage of the Province of Sondrio.
The project uses digital technology to broaden and refresh the ways in which knowledge is shared with visitors—one of the museum’s core missions—while also creating new reasons to explore the village. San Giorgio has thus become a “talking village”, revealing the stories behind its most significant places.