Carnia Museum “Michele Gortani”: a Tale of Mountains and Traditions

Located in Tolmezzo, in the heart of Carnia, the Carnia Museum “Michele Gortani” is a key institution dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the culture and traditions of this fascinating mountain region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Founded in 1922, it is one of the most important ethnographic museums in Italy, named after Michele Gortani, a renowned geologist and naturalist from Carnia.

Housed in the elegant 18th-century Palazzo Campeis, the museum provides the perfect setting for a journey back in time to explore the daily life and labor of mountain people. Its vast collection — over 5,000 artifacts — documents the customs, crafts, beliefs, and art of Carnia from the 18th to the early 20th century.

An Immersion into Carnic Life

The exhibition unfolds through a series of thematic rooms that faithfully recreate the environments and activities of everyday life. Each section is like a chapter in a book narrating the story of a strong and ingenious people:

• The Environment and Crafts: this section is dedicated to agricultural tools and instruments used in wood, iron, and stonework. Visitors can admire ancient weaving looms, carpenters’ benches, and blacksmiths’ tools, all testifying to the trades that shaped Carnia’s economy and identity.
• The Home and Family: here, traditional domestic interiors are reconstructed — such as the kitchen with its hearth and the bedroom — furnished with original furniture, utensils, linens, and everyday objects that bring family life of the past vividly to life.
• Costumes and Traditions: one of the highlights of the museum is its rich collection of traditional clothing. Each garment tells the story of its village of origin, the wearer’s social status, and the role of festivities and ceremonies in community life.
• Religiosity and Folk Legends: this section displays objects linked to popular devotion and ancient beliefs, including ex-votos, amulets, and ritual artifacts that bear witness to the deep spirituality and symbolic heritage of the people of Carnia.

Visitor Information

The Carnia Museum is a place of great charm — not only for scholars but for anyone wishing to understand the soul of this mountain land. The visit is an educational and engaging experience that invites reflection on the enduring relationship between humans and their natural environment.

• Address: Via della Vittoria, 2 – 33028 Tolmezzo (UD)
• Website: www.museocarnico.it
• Opening Hours: closed on Tuesdays. Open Monday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. / 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
• Tickets:
  • Full: €4.00
  • Reduced: €2.00 (for students up to 26 years old, visitors over 65, and groups of at least 10 people)
  • Free: for children up to 6 years old, people with disabilities and their companions, and during special events.

The Carnia Museum “Michele Gortani” is a must-see destination for anyone who wishes to discover the history and identity of a people who have preserved their culture with deep respect and harmony for the mountains that surround them.

Cover photo credits: Mauro Lanzini, Google Maps