Ecomuseo delle Erbe Palustri

In Villanova di Bagnacavallo, the Ecomuseum of Marsh Herbs preserves the craft of turning wetland plants into useful objects. Its collections document how local families worked reeds, rushes and woods from the Lamone valley; an active workshop and an outdoor park of reconstructed huts keep those skills in view.

Why it matters

For generations, the wetlands around Villanova supplied materials for work and home. From the eighteenth century onward, harvesting and weaving marsh plants became a significant part of local life and economy. The ecomuseum, developed through research and recovery work begun in 1985, documents the knowledge, landscape and material culture that grew from this relationship.

What to notice

The collections show the range of plants and techniques used in local weaving, including stiancia, lake rush, sedge, common reed and soft rush, alongside willow and poplar. A reconstructed house-workshop evokes the domestic setting in which these objects were made, while the Cantiere aperto preserves the craft as a working practice. Outside, the Etnoparco Villanova delle Capanne reconstructs characteristic Romagna structures: the capanno, capanno cantina and cavâna, traditionally used to shelter boats. The collection of games made from natural and salvaged materials, “Giocare con niente,” reflects the ingenuity of everyday life in the wetlands.

Context and history

The ecomuseum’s work began in 1985 with the recovery and documentation of skills tied to life between land and valley. Its collections and reconstructed structures connect the material culture of the Lamone wetlands with their environmental history. The Sagra delle Erbe Palustri continues that heritage through a public celebration of local plants and crafts.