The Civic Museum of Disappeared Villages, housed in the historic Palazzo Valentinelli, is an evocative journey to discover medieval Lower Padua and its ancient origins. Located at via Municipio 22, the museum is divided into a large exhibition hall segmented into four thematic areas, a conference room dedicated also to education, and a study room with a historical archive.
The exhibition path guides visitors on a journey through time, starting from the High Middle Ages, when the territory underwent profound environmental and demographic transformations. With the collapse of Roman structures and the arrival of barbarian populations, the area returned to a predominantly silvo-pastoral dimension, with a gradual abandonment of infrastructure and land reclamation.
The rebirth of Lower Padua occurred between the 10th and 11th centuries, thanks to a climatic improvement that favored the return of agricultural activities, hunting, and fishing. In this context, the first medieval villages emerged: small rural settlements, often built on the remains of ancient Roman villas, now rediscovered through studies and archaeological finds.
The museum thus offers an immersive experience among history, archaeology, and landscape, ideal for those who wish to understand the deep roots of the territory and experience an authentic cultural journey into the memory of Lower Padua.
