The aim of the cultural society "Ponte", created in 1985 in Capannori, is to discover, restore, exhibit and make available all traces of the past peasant life in the Plain of Lucca. In the last years the society has organised 4 exhibitions on specific topics and collected material concerning the life and habits of the local peasantry and artisans. Two of these exhibitions have now become permanent, retaining their original division in topics: 1st. Spinning and weaving in the past, 2nd. Wheat: from field to table. The other two, i.e. 3rd. Transport and lifting of weights and 4th. Woodwork according to the tradition of Lucca's peasantry, are still waiting for an adequate placement. Typical cultures of the Plain are documented not only by tools, but also by photographs and other old documents. In addition to this the society has prepared two travelling exhibitions of photographs, "Images of traditional peasant life in Lucca 1880-1960" and "Images of Capannori in the first half of the XXth century".
Gallery:
Details:
- MICHELI S., La Comunità di Capannori, aspetti dell´organizzazione civile nei secoli XVI-XVIII, Capannori 1991
- LAGANÀ N., L'Agricoltura lucchese nel secolo XIV, Capannori 1993.
- MICHELI S., Capannori, storia minima, Capannori 1993
- DEL GOBBO G., Cenni di metodologia Etnografica: la Famigllia e la Parentela nelle corti della lucchesia, Capannori 1996
- LAGANÀ N., Appunti per una storia della corte lucchese, Capannori 1996
The section called "Wheat: from field to table" is housed in a wing of the mansion where in the XVIIth century the "Commissario delle Sei Miglia", an official of the Republic of Lucca, used to reside. Here we can see tools used in growing wheat and other cereals and the different stages involved, i.e. preparation of the ground, threshing, use in kitchen and as fodder. The second permanent exhibition, "Spinning and weaving in the past", is housed in an old farmhouse. Here the interiors are reproduced as they used to be with all necessary implements and some examples of traditional locally produced cloth are shown; during visits a woman works on the loom.
The "Ponte" society has created a library with many volumes on history, folk traditions and agriculture, as well as a photo archive that well documents the changing reality on Lucca´s territory.
Farm tools; artisans' tools; household articles; reconstruction of interiors.
Information:
Via Francesco Banchieri, 62-66 - 55012 - Capannori
