I musei ecclesiastici e il territorio [Ecclesiastical museums and territory]

This article suggests a series of reflexions regarding ecclesiastical museums and their different relationship with the surrounding territory, using considerations on museums of more geographical characteristics. Indeed, as the research regarding technical problems of museums and those of an artistic nature have been reaffirmed during the preparation for the XXIV General Conference on the International Council of Museums, which will be held in Milan in 2016. The responsibility of museums towards their outward interest should be the same as the regard held to their own collections. The ecclesiastical realty of Italian museums is characterised by really numerous institutions, of different dimensions, importance, type and property; consequently, it constitutes a complex and emblematical chance of study. First of all different examples of connection between the ecclesiastical museums will be tackled, above all examining thoroughly the case of the distribution network; followed by the connections which such differing museums can keep up relations with the surrounding territory; and lastly the relationship which exists between museums on the one side and visitors and the local community on the other