Vigevano's hidden archaeological museum struggles for visitors despite rich collection

The Museo Archeologico Nazionale della Lomellina, housed in the Castello Sforzesco stables in Vigevano, holds a well-organized collection spanning from Prehistory to the Lombard period, including one of Italy's most extraordinary collections of archaeological glass in Sala 2. Despite being part of a monumental complex with Piazza Ducale, the museum remains nearly empty. During the European Heritage Days (24-25 September 2022), students from Liceo Ginnasio "Benedetto Cairoli" of Vigevano acted as guides and promoted the museum on social media, highlighting the lack of English labels and the need for better promotion. The Castello Sforzesco, one of Lombardy's largest castles with 25,000 sqm of covered area and 36,000 sqm of green spaces, has vast unused potential, including a virtual museum dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci. The article questions why such a rich identity museum fails to attract visitors, noting that the square outside is crowded even on gloomy days.