Alto Tavoliere Museum

The Alto Tavoliere Museum, also known as the Civic Museum of San Severo, was recently renovated and equipped with the most modern facilities, and occupies the halls of the historic site of the former convent of San Francesco d'Assisi. The convent complex of ancient origin (1232 the first attestation) was rebuilt after the earthquake of 30 July 1627, expanding in a southwest direction towards the ancient city walls; the structure was affected with the annexed church by further renovations in the first half of the eighteenth century and during the twentieth century, up to the last interventions completed in 2009 and projected towards an adaptation of the museum installations for greater use and enhancement of the entire building. The complex, with the suppression of the Franciscan order, was destined for the most varied uses with respect to its original intent: military barracks, town hall, orphanage, elementary school and cultural container in the last decade of the twentieth century until today.

The MAT - Alto Tavoliere Museum accompanies users into the past of the territory through the rich heritage coming from the archaeological areas, from the Paleolithic to the Middle Ages. The exhibition of the collections is preceded by two sections in which the history of the territory conceived as the history of landscapes is told and revealed through the diaries of past travelers and through aerial photographs that have allowed the discovery of archaeological sites. The itinerary documents the presence of human settlements in the neighboring areas since the Paleolithic. The prehistoric collection features materials from random recoveries and surface collections and the original finds are flanked by reconstructions and faithful copies of objects that provide insights into the life of prehistoric populations.

The MAT - Alto Tavoliere Museum contains one of the most important collections of grave goods from tombs from the Daunian era; the objects come from the necropolis in the Serpente, Pedincone, Casone localities (to which an entire room is dedicated) and from the urban center of San Severo. Among the most interesting objects on display, the presence of stelae, grave markers and necorred objects that underline the prestige of the deceased (precious metal finds, ceramic artifacts of Hellenizing culture) is extremely significant.

The archaeological section on the upper floor ends with a thematic room dedicated to the forms of production of Apulian red-figure pottery and the results represented by polychrome tempera ceramics. The Lapidarium on the lower floor houses some finds from the Roman era, which allow you to understand the social history of this area when it entered the political and economic orbit of Rome between the third century BC. and 1st century AD Finally, a room on the lower floor documents the productions that have characterized the Upper Tavoliere territory since ancient times: wheat, wine, oil and transhumant sheep farming.

Inside the Alto Tavoliere museum, the "Luigi Schingo" Art Gallery was established in 2006, consisting of forty works including paintings, sculptures and drawings, grouped by themes: landscapes, portraits, scenes of everyday life. The itinerary ends with a space on the ground floor reserved for temporary exhibitions. In the MAT - Alto Tavoliere Museum, entirely accessible to the disabled, guided tours, educational workshops, experimentation, simulation and animation activities with specialized operators are carried out. Furthermore, targeted courses, projects, consultancy, in-depth studies are carried out on request and based on particular needs presented by the teaching staff.

Source: Beniculturali.it