Landscape Study Centre

According to the Statute of the Museo del Paesaggio, the Museum’s remit has been clear since its foundation: “To encourage the study of the artistic and natural treasures of the area and to support measures for their protection”.  This is an unusual aim for a museum, and was in advance of its time when the Museum was founded;  it has been pursued in different ways over the years.  An exhibition about the Fondotoce Plain in 1979 saw the start of the Museum’s activity in favour of the environment, and in 1988 the Landscape Study Centre was set up as part of the internal structure of the Museum.  The overall aims of the Centre are:

- to encourage knowledge and protection of the landscape;
- to study and document the different types and aspects of the landscape in the Province;
- to inform the public, schools, universities, public and private bodies about the landscape.

The Landscape Study Centre comprises four Sections, which pursue different studies and activities according to the various aspects of the landscape:

- historical and physical aspects;
- protection and transformation of the landscape;
- townscape;
- villa and garden archive.

The activities of the Landscape Study Centre have included the organisation of two Provincial Conferences for the Landscape, the first in 2004 in Vogogna, the second in 2007 in Omegna, and initiatives in defence of the Castles of Cannero (www.castellidicannero.com).