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The Borderlands Museum in Sonnino: bandits, frontiers, and identity
For centuries, Sonnino was the last bastion of the Papal States before encountering the Kingdom of Naples. This strategic position shaped its identity: a pastoral economy, territorial conflicts, and widespread banditry. The Museo delle Terre di Confine (Borderlands Museum) in Sonnino explores an unusual theme: the historical and anthropological meaning of the border. Opened on July 26, 2008, housed in the 18th-century Palazzo Mancini, the museum has a multisensory layout, featuring stage sets, dramatisations, and interactive installations.
Exhibition layout
The itinerary is divided into four sections. The first, "Why a Borderland?", introduces the cultural specificity of the area. The second, "Local Heritage and Experiences," is dedicated to the Procession of the Torches, a nocturnal march along the municipal borders, possibly rooted in the Roman Ambarvalia (purification of the fields). The third presents three "Border Characters": Maria Grazia, a bandit’s wife and a recurring subject in genre painting; Antonio Gasbarrone, a legendary brigand; and Cardinal Giacomo Antonelli, known as the "Italian Richelieu" of Pius IX. The visit concludes with "Words and Images of the Elsewhere," exploring contemporary perceptions of the territory.
