Located in the Ofanto Valley, the village of Andretta is perched around the ancient castrum, probably of Norman origin. The area shows traces of human presence dating back to the Bronze Age and evidence of Samnite (4th century BC) and Roman settlements. Andretta, mentioned for the first time in a document from 1124, was owned by the Norman lords of Folleville; later, it belonged to the Zurlo, the Caracciolo, and finally the Imperiale family. Originally a farming community, the location has also developed industrially in recent decades, thanks to initiatives by young local entrepreneurs. The first hall of the Museum preserves archaeological finds discovered in the Andretta territory. In the following rooms, domestic and working environments characteristic of the area are reconstructed. The Peasant’s Space displays a wooden and iron plow, a clod breaker, various types of harrows used to crumble clods, plowshares, iron plow blades, pickaxes, pitchforks, and a hay cutter. In the same room, a series of small scales, containers, and tools used for wine production are exhibited: vats, funnels, barrels, and flasks. The Daily Life section preserves tools for pig slaughtering: binding ropes, spreaders, cleavers, scraping knives, knives, funnels, and a machine for producing cured meats. Next is the Blacksmith’s Corner, where you can see a bench and various tools used to shoe horses, donkeys, and oxen. The Carpenter’s Corner houses a lathe, various types of saws (saracco, gattuccio), planes, clamps, squares, drills, hammers, tongs, and shears. The Cobbler’s Corner features a small table on which numerous shoe models and various tools are placed: awls, stitch markers, and pliers. Finally, in the knitting area, there is a wooden spinning wheel, spindles, a sewing machine, and knitting weights.
Information about the Museum of Peasant and Artisan Civilization of Andretta
Via Libertà, 45
83040 Andretta (Avellino)
082732009
comuneandretta@tiscali.it
Source: MIBACT
