Il Museo del Termalismo a Latronico. Spazio della memoria sociale e di autoriconoscimento comunitario

Abstract

The Thermae Museum of Latronico, housed in a historic building built in 1928, is founded by the municipality of
Latronico, in the province of Potenza, and by the Pollino National Park, with the aim to deepening and spreading
knowledge on the municipal thermae activity. The thermae activity has influenced over time the social and urban fabric
of Latronico. In fact, thermae, as well as playing an important therapeutic function, over the years they represented a significant
gathering space, a place for recreation and a modifier of social habits, so performing an observatory role on the
transformation of social local life in the 20th century. The thermal waters, being the main resource for the territory, had
a considerable impact on how to define and perceive the landscape of Latronico. Their exploitation is considered a selfrecognition
factor for the community, a distinguishing feature culminated with the change of name of the Municipality
to “Latronico Terme”. For this important role, in the design intentions the Museum aims to represent a synthesis and a
joint for memories and individual experiences, of the community history, of the knowledges and techniques. As such,
the museum will tend to offer a real knowledge of the area in the hope of becoming a place of dialogue, of mediation,
of communication between the inhabitants of Latronico and thermae’s customers and an instrument for the exploitation
of local resources. The exhibition aims to simulate a virtual visit to the contemporary thermae and Latronico for people
who attended and met the thermaes and the town in the past years and decades. The thermae and the present town are
used in the exhibition as a kind of scenario, which is the background to a past, to which we refer constantly.