The riches of the Left Piave area in Belluno are not only environmental or social but also historical and cultural. A valuable testimony is represented by the Piave Museum "Vincenzo Colognese" in Caorera di Setteville.
Founded by Don Antonio Pavan and Vincenzo Colognese, the museum was established with the intention of keeping alive the memory of the events of the First World War, a conflict that dramatically marked the slopes of Grappa between 1917 and 1918.
As stated on the official website of the museum, "presenting this Museum is not a simple task: even the most attentive visitor might, at first glance, not understand the criterion followed by the 'Museo del Piave Vincenzo Colognese' Association in choosing the exhibited objects. In fact, the reasons that led to the creation of the Museum should not be sought exclusively in the desire for a historical reconstruction, but above all in the wish to share experiences of lived life, dreams, and disappointments that have marked not only the stones of this glorious river but also the hearts of the people, in war and peace."
It is, therefore, a "heartfelt" museum, created by the people who truly lived those years, and it is precisely this that is hoped to be conveyed to visitors: an emotion, not a cold museum display. All exhibited pieces are original and the result of years of passionate research. For this reason, what is visible today represents only a part: the goal is to continue enriching the museum in every aspect.
One of its particularities is that it is an "open" museum, constantly evolving, growing thanks to contributions of objects and memories from those directly or indirectly involved in the events, as well as from anyone who feels connected to this fragment of Venetian, Italian, European, and world history.
There have been many significant twinning initiatives, such as those with the Museum of Caporetto and the Military History Museum of Budapest. In 2005, a new hall of about 300 square meters was inaugurated by Archduke Georg of Austria (nephew of Emperor Charles I of Austria), featuring extraordinary exhibitions: the original Austrian and Hungarian flag; a photographic exhibition with geographical maps of the Honvéd; an Austro-Hungarian pontoon boat recovered from the sands of the Piave at Ponte di Piave; unique artifacts like swords, rifles, machine guns, and pistols; an exhibition of 300 model aircraft; scale models of the Red Baron's plane and Francesco Baracca's SPAD XIII.
It is also worth noting the presence in the museum of the statue of the Madonna del Piave, a symbol of faith and hope, which continues to inspire devotion and reflection.
Further reinforcing the human value of the museum is a photographic exhibition dedicated to the role of women in the Great War, showcasing the courage and contribution of women during a dramatic and decisive historical moment.
Thanks to the commitment of President Paolo Colognese Zoppas, Vice President Agostino Miuzzo, and all the volunteers, this extraordinary project continues to live and grow, with the aim of preserving memory, telling history, and never forgetting the past.
