Located in what were once the stables of the Franciscan convent, the Museum of Mysteries unfolds along a longitudinal path marked by cells, elevated floors, and spacious areas that gradually narrow to guide visitors through the stages of Christ’s Passion. The sculptural groups, also called “frames” or “tableaux,” are entirely made of papier-mâché and are the work of the artist from Eclano, Antonio Russo (1836-1914), who donated them to the city in 1875. The figures, modeled using old paper and glue with glass inserts for the eyes, are about one and a half meters tall and stand out for the expressions of strength and pain that the artist managed to infuse in them; the faces of some characters in the collection are inspired by people actually known to the artist. In fact, in the tableau “Christ Stripped of His Garments,” there is a man dressed in 19th-century clothes: he was a moneylender to whom the artist owed debts and who caused him serious problems; in contrast, the face of the Madonna is that of his beloved mother. Inside the Museum of Mysteries, visitors can learn the main papier-mâché crafting methods through audiovisual educational supports and a multimedia room. The Cart Museum, open to the public since 2005, is set up on the first floor of the same monumental complex of San Francesco, seat of the Municipality of Mirabella Eclano. The museum displays some original parts of the seven registers composing the Cart. This fascinating work is a 25-meter-high obelisk entirely covered with woven straw panels arranged architecturally like a spire. The entire sculpture is the result of skilled craftsmen’s work who have been caring for the “straw jewel” for over a century. The Cart’s transport takes place every year on the Saturday before the third Sunday of September, the day dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, to whom the Cart festival pays homage. The obelisk, supported by two agricultural cart wheels, travels through the city streets pulled by six pairs of oxen and a multitude of people who hold onto hemp ropes to regulate its stability. Inside the museum, there is also a permanent photo exhibition illustrating the Cart’s history from its first project dated 1869, covering the key phases of its construction up to the most significant moment of the “pull.” SERVICES PROVIDED – Initial visitor welcome – Managing the information point through distribution of informative material – Educational activities – Temporary exhibitions – Cultural, tourist, and accommodation information – Managing the booking schedule for visits and for participation in any activities organized for school, resident, and tourist public
Information about the Civic Museum of the Straw Cart and the Papier-Mâché Mysteries
Monumental Complex of S. Francesco,
83036 Mirabella Eclano (Avellino)
0825 438078
mirabellaeclano@sistemamuseo.it
Source: MIBACT
