The Museums Project

Preserving and Divulging Cultural Heritage in Your Community

The Museums Project is a collaboration between Tema and Historia snc that brings together talents and expertise from the United States and Italy to develop, manage and promote Cultural Heritage in European and North American communities to:

give meaning and purpose to the objects on display in museums and art galleries

disclose the historical and archaeological heritage of a community

leverage conservation and the rediscovery of cultural heritage

through the arts, history, archeology, literature and architecture

rediscover cultures associated with agricultural land, and

preserve biodiversity.

Learning by Doing a smart way of learning, through which one experiences new skills, sociality and teamwork. Our areas of expertise:

Develop and manage educational activities for children, schools and families;

3D Modeling and reconstruction courses;

Scientific reconstructions that leverage data and comparison studies;

Rendering, video and virtual tours;

Cultural Heritage communications and fundraising;

Web, portal and app development with augmented reality content;

Development of tourism itineraries and tours;

Organization of exhibits, conferences and seminars;

Drafting and editing of cultural heritage guide books.

A Community Museum is a virtual or real, indoor or outdoor authentic experience representative of and rooted in the local history and traditions of a territory.

It works best with informal, friendly interactions between guest and host 

Participants are new entrepreneurs, existing small businesses, nonprofits and local government all working together in a laboratory designed to acquire and constantly update knowledge and learning skills.

The result a sustainable and full cultural immersion that is both product and market oriented and generates new wealth for your community.

Some of Our Museums

The Museum Parish of Massa Fiscaglia near Ferrara exhibits objects and vestments belonging to numerous ancient brotherhoods, gold devotional offerings to Our Lady of Corba, the processional banner dedicated to the Virgin Mary, valuable paintings, sacred vessels and liturgical objects. Also, the crown and scepter of the Madonna della Corba, a 15^th century terracotta statue, and 17^th to 19^th century paintings, including: the Annunciation attributed to Jacopo Bassano, St. Francis receiving the stigmata by Carlo Bononi and a Circumcision of Christ Child attributed to Scarsellino.

Castel Pietra near Trento holds documents dating back to the 12^th century. Its architecture displays different styles, but its purpose was decidedly defense and control of the territory, as it is located in an important strategic position near a large bend of the Adige River and the Imperial Road at the narrowest point near Vallagarina where on August 10^th 1487 Venetian troops under General Sanseverino, were severely defeated. The castle was also the scene of important battles between Napoleon’s army and the Austrians at end of the 18^th and early 19^th centuries. During WWI, the castle was bombed and damaged on several occasions. Castel Pietra has continuously belonged to the same family since 1738.

The Ravello Cathedral Museum houses a precious heritage, ancient and medieval-modern, of considerable art-historical and archaeological interest, including urns, sarcophagi, sculptures of exquisite workmanship, ornate stone and liturgical furnishings made of noble metals. Among the most interesting works is the Falconer, a passion of the ruler Frederick II of Hohenstaufen, exhibited at New York’s Metropolitan Museum and Mannheim’s Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen.

Domus Romana an archeological in the center of Lucca and home of “House of the Child on a Dolphin”. The archaeological excavations have brought to light many interesting objects relating to daily life and worship in Roman Lucca such as: the terracotta frieze, illustrated with a mythological scene that gives its name to the Museum itself, a Sesterzio coin from 14 AD featuring the Emperor Tiberius and a bronze clasp of the Augustan period. The museum’s charming rooms also feature the evolution of Lucca from the Roman period to the Renaissance, through the Lombard period and the Middle Ages.

The Fruit Museum in Massa Lombarda near Ravenna is a restored old country house transformed into a museum. The ground floor presents tools and everyday objects typical of rural culture and the stables are dedicated to the culture of life, wheat and hemp. The first floor is dedicated to Massa Lombarda the "capital" of Italian fruit (1927), the story of fruit industry entrepreneur Adolfo Bonvicini (1854-1916), a display of documents relating to the birth of the first workers cooperatives, tools, a sorting machine and artistic labels, painted by famous 20^th century artists.

The Faggiano Museum an archeological museum located in a historic building in the center of Lecce in Salento and recently featured in the New York Times. During some restoration work on the building interesting relics from different periods were discovered, including: floors from the Messapian age (5^th century BC), a cistern bell 15^th century, a medieval silos, walls and wells (at the bottom of one you can see the Idume river) tanks of various periods, corpses and tombs, one of these carved into the rock, and pottery.

Connect with Historia and Tema

for a Cultural Heritage Experience in Your Community

Local Knowledge – Global Reach

tema@arezza.net |skype arezza1

Grapevine and Texas Wine

Wineries Museums Public Art Trails Vintage Railroads and Mass Transit

Grapevine is a small town located between Dallas and Fort Worth and is home of DFW International Airport, the world’s fourth largest, with nonstop service from more than 200 cities, including over 50 international destinations. Main Street in the historic downtown has a public library, recreation center, antique stores, restaurants, bars, theaters, a park, and many specialty shops. Here, you can also bottle your own wine, explore Historic Nash Farm, the Botanical Gardens and Lake Grapevine.

A Downtown Walking Tour the Main Street Historic District includes over 50 buildings and their architectural descriptions as well as stories, events and people who contributed to the town’s development. Founded in 1844, Grapevine is the oldest community in Tarrant County. In 1888, when the Cotton Belt Railroad came to Grapevine, businesses flourished and the wooden buildings on Main Street were replaced with new structures constructed of locally-made brick. At least 80 percent of the commercial buildings date from that period.

The Grapevine Vintage Railroad follows a scenic route to the Fort Worth Stockyards along the Cotton Belt Railroad right-of-way. The service is a tourist attraction due to its slow speeds. The Grapevine Rail also hosts one of the community’s seven winery tasting rooms.

Mass Transit Service new train stations downtown and north of the airport are included in the proposed commuter route that follows existing rail lines from downtown Fort Worth, northeast to downtown Grapevine and then into the north entrance of Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. The route connects with other transportation services, including the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) commuter rail service, AMTRAK, and downtown bus transfer center at the Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center as well as a connection to the Dallas Dart Rail. 

Texas and Wine a major wine producer in the United States, thanks to a sunny and dry climate, and with the earliest recorded wine making in El Paso in the 1650s by Spanish missionaries, Texas boasts more than 4,400 acres of vineyard farmland and a variety of vintages.

Wineries there are 310 wineries in Texas, ranging from small producers who concentrate on tourism to large wineries catering to national and international markets as well as eight American Viti Cultural Areas. Harvest time is normally around the end of July, two months before California and three months earlier than many of France’s wine regions.

Wine Production In keeping with the state’s tradition of doing things big or not at all, more than 1.5 million gallons of wine are produced in Texas, with an economic impact of over $1.83 billion.

Wine Trails Grapevine is home to a vibrant and growing urban wine trail which features daily wine tastings and special events throughout the year. From strong and bold Texas red wines to crisp and clean Texas white wines, you'll find a variety of favorite taste sensations.

Arts & Culture downtown Grapevine is home to numerous art galleries, many within walking distance of one another. Enjoy a live glass blowing demonstration at a glass blowing studio or watch a blacksmith weld at a blacksmith shop. Also, some beautiful works of art at new and recently opened galleries throughout the city, including studios where you can paint your own painting or others where you can design your own pottery. The city also boasts the Grapevine Opry where country music classics are performed, the Texas Star Dinner Theater where the Wild West comes to life and the 1940s Palace Arts Theatre with live performances and classic movies.
A Public Art Trail features bronze works of art that depict characters of the city as well as scenes of Grapevine's history. Museums and Galleries host a variety of art, cultural, historical and educational exhibitions with a wide variety of mediums and artists.

The Grapevine Museums discover what life was like over 100 years ago. The museum plaza is home to two 19th century pioneer homes and a school house. The plaza and the museums speak to life on the Grape Vine Prairie and to the larger story of settling Texas. The three museums, The Donald Schoolhouse Museum, The Keeling House Museum and the Grapevine Cotton Ginner's Museum feature educational exhibits, hands-on activities and a collection of 19^th century artifacts that represent the community as a commercial center. Grapevine's art and museum community continues to expand with art exhibitions ranging from Texas history to space exploration, agricultural heritage and contemporary art. 

Rapid City South Dakota

The Black Hills Mount Rushmore Crazy Horse Memorial Custer State Park and the Badlands

Rapid City is centrally located to visit the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial, Custer State Park and the Badlands.

Western and Native American Heritage throughout the city you will find Native American history exhibits, fine arts displays, and interactive museums like the: 

The Journey Museum takes you from the formation of the Black Hills over 2.5 billion years ago to the continuing saga of the Western frontier. Interactive exhibits and displays present the geography, people and events that shaped the history and heritage of this region. 

Dahl Arts Center located downtown, is a city-owned art museum that offers a variety of cultural exhibits, as well as classes, seminars and free art adventures.  

APEX Gallery located on the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology campus, you can explore Rapid City’s ancient past at one of the finest fossil and mineral museums in the country.

Main Street Square in Rapid City with daily activities and entertainment and City of Presidents and get your picture taken with life‐size bronze statues of our nation’s presidents.

Rapid City has two historic districts for your enjoyment. The first is the historic downtown with notable buildings such as the 1914 First National Bank building at 7th and Main. Across the street you will find the 1911 Lions Head Fountain, which was once a watering station for horses. The West Historical District is residential in character; portions of 18 blocks contain examples of the city's finest late 19^th century and early 20^th century structures.

Mount Rushmore carved from a mountain of granite, Mount Rushmore is located only 17 miles from Rapid City.  Visit the park year-round, see mountain goats and walk the Avenue of Flags. 

Badlands National Park consists of 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest, protected mixed grass prairie in the United States. Wall Drug, a tiny store, built in 1931, has boomed to become internationally known for its offering of free ice water, specialty shopping, and a unique backyard experience. While in Wall, also visit Wounded Knee: The Museum and learn about the last, bloody conflict between Native Americans and the US Army Cavalry.

Custer State Park is home to wildlife including one of the nation's largest free roaming buffalo herds and the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway, a 66-mile scenic route, the Needles Highway and Iron Mountain Road. 

Crazy Horse Memorial is the world's largest sculpture-in-progress. When completed, it will stand 563 feet tall by 641 feet long.  See the mountain carving in progress, museums and laser light show.

Stavkirke - Chapel in the Hills - is a replica of an 850‐year‐old church in Norway. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the Outdoor Campus West featuring educational outdoor activities. Tour one of the Black Hills Gold jewelry factories and watch as each piece of jewelry is hand‐crafted.

Fort Meade Museum, home of the 7th Cavalry, re‐formed after the disastrous Battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876.

Deadwood area attractions include the Black Hills Mining Museum, the Homestake Visitor Center in Lead and Mount Moriah Cemetery where Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane are buried.