From the historical reenactment festival Raetica at the Bostel Archaeological Park in Rotzo, to the new podcast “Secrets Behind the Glass” and thematic routes guiding visitors through the discovery of the local area, the summer programme of Musei Altovicentino offers a wealth of opportunities to experience cultural heritage in engaging and innovative ways.
The museum network presents a programme that combines outreach, hands-on experiences, and new forms of storytelling, with the aim of bringing diverse audiences closer to the history, traditions, and landscapes of the Vicenza area.
RAETICA: THE MEETING OF PEOPLES
One of the most anticipated events of the summer is the return of Raetica, the major archaeology and historical reenactment festival held at the Bostel Archaeological Park in Rotzo, one of the most important settlements from the Late Iron Age in the eastern Alpine region.
Located at approximately 850 metres above sea level on the Asiago Plateau, the Bostel site was a strategic hub for exchanges between the Venetian plain and the Alpine world. Today, the site is an open-air museum where visitors can immerse themselves in the daily life of the communities that inhabited these mountains more than two thousand years ago.
The theme of the 2026 edition, taking place from 25 to 26 July, is “The Meeting of Peoples”, a narrative dedicated to the cultural exchanges and relationships that characterised the area as early as the protohistoric period.
The programme includes guided tours, educational workshops on weaving, metalworking, and coin minting, as well as the popular Iron Age Fashion Show, during which reenactors present and explain the clothing of the period. The festival will also feature performances, bardic storytelling, historical dances, artisan markets, and the evocative Brandopferplatz, a collective votive bonfire that will close the event as a symbol of encounter and sharing between different cultures.
Enhancing the 2026 edition will be workshops for all ages led by archaeological museums from across the Vicenza area, with activities ranging from the Iron Age to other historical periods.
Throughout the event, a Musei Altovicentino information corner will be available, and educators from the Monte Corgnon Prehistoric Village (Lusiana Conco), the Alto Vicentino Archaeological Museum (Santorso), the Permanent Archaeological Exhibition (Thiene), the “Giuseppe Zannato” Civic Museum of Archaeology and Natural Sciences (Montecchio Maggiore), and the “Domenico Dal Lago” Civic Museum (Valdagno) will participate on a rotating basis, alongside the widespread presence of the Archaeological Museum of the Asiago Plateau, the host institution.
“SECRETS BEHIND THE GLASS”: THE NEW MUSEI ALTOVICENTINO PODCAST
Among this summer’s new initiatives is the launch of the official Musei Altovicentino podcast, “Secrets Behind the Glass: Museums as You’ve Never Heard Them Before.”
The series stems from the civil service experience of Martina Ceola, developed in collaboration with the network office, and offers a new way of narrating museum collections. Objects that may appear silent at first glance become the protagonists of unexpected stories, curiosities, and hidden meanings that invite listeners to look beyond what is displayed in museum cases.
The podcast represents an innovative tool for engaging with local heritage and discovering the museums of the network through the power of storytelling and listening.
EXPERIENCES: MUSEUMS AS GATEWAYS TO THE TERRITORY
Summer is also an opportunity to discover the network’s various itineraries, which weave together landscape, history, and the identity of the Vicenza area.
The initiative was created with the aim of enhancing the region’s widespread cultural heritage by connecting museums, historical sites, natural spaces, and local communities. The project proposes narrative routes that transcend traditional administrative and disciplinary boundaries, offering visitors new perspectives for interpretation.
Among the itineraries already available is “The Legacy of La Serenissima in the Vicenza Area”, a journey through the traces left by the Republic of Venice in the towns and museums of the network. The route highlights the deep connection between the Vicenza territory and La Serenissima, exploring historical, economic, and cultural influences that remain visible today.
Alongside this, other major narrative themes focus on the region’s natural treasures, ancient peoples, and the communication routes that crossed the Vicentine mountains. Another key theme is the First World War, explored through the itinerary “Crossing Borders Between Landscapes and Generations. 1914–1918 / Today”, which invites visitors to reflect on the transformations of landscapes shaped by opposing armies and on the relationship between memory, past, and present.
Each experience is accompanied by digital content, informational materials, and in-depth resources that allow visitors to engage with heritage in a personalized and independent way, creating a continuous dialogue between virtual and on-site experiences.
Through these initiatives, Musei Altovicentino reaffirms its commitment to making cultural heritage accessible, participatory, and contemporary, transforming museums into vibrant places capable of telling the stories of the past while engaging in dialogue with the present.
