{{Short description|Group of museums in Italy}} {{Infobox museum | name = Messner Mountain Museum | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = Messner Mountain Musem.jpg | caption = Messner Mountain Museum signpost | alt = | map_type = | map_relief = | map_size = | map_caption = | coordinates = | established = {{Start date|2006|06|11|df=y}} | location = {{Plainlist| * MMM Firmian at Sigmundskron Castle * MMM Juval at Juval Castle * MMM Dolomites at {{ill|Monte Rite|it}} * MMM Ortles at Sulden * MMM Ripa at {{ill|Bruneck Castle|it|Castello di Brunico}} }} | type = {{Plainlist| * Art museum * Natural history museum * Science museum * }} | accreditation = | key_holdings = | collections = | collection_size = | visitors = | director = Reinhold Messner | president = | curator = | owner = Reinhold Messner | public_transit = | parking = | network = | website = {{URL|www.messner-mountain-museum.it}} }} The '''Messner Mountain Museum''' ('''MMM''') is a museum project created in 2006 by Italian mountaineer and extreme climber Reinhold Messner in South Tyrol in northern Italy. Messner's museum project is designed to educate visitors on "man's encounter with mountains" and deals with the science of mountains and glaciers, the history of mountaineering and rock climbing, the history of mythical mountains, and the history of mountain-dwelling people.<ref name="inhabit">{{cite web|last=Zimmer |first=Lori |title=Medieval Italian Castle Transformed into Modern Mountain Museum |work=Inhabit |date=12 July 2011 |url=http://inhabitat.com/medieval-italian-castle-transformed-into-modern-mountain-museum/ |accessdate=February 9, 2014}}</ref>
The museum project consists of six museums based at six different locations: Firmian, Juval, Dolomites, Ortles, Ripa and Corones. MMM Firmian at Sigmundskron Castle near Bozen is the centerpiece of the museum and concentrates on man’s relationship with the mountains. The museum includes displays on the geology of the mountains, the religious significance of mountains in the lives of people, and the history of mountaineering and alpine tourism.<ref name="mmm-firmian">{{cite web|title=MMM Firmian |work=Messner Mountain Museum |url=http://www.messner-mountain-museum.it/en/firmian/museum/ |accessdate=October 21, 2016}}</ref> MMM Juval at Juval Castle in the Burggrafenamt in Vinschgau is dedicated to the "magic of the mountains", with an emphasis on mystical mountains and their religious significance.<ref name="mmm-juval">{{cite web|title=MMM Juval |work=Messner Mountain Museum |url=http://www.messner-mountain-museum.it/en/juval/museum/ |accessdate=October 21, 2016}}</ref> MMM Dolomites at the Cibiana Pass at {{ill|Monte Rite|it}}, housed in an old fort, is dedicated to the subject of rocks, particularly in the Dolomites, with exhibits focusing on the history of the formation of the Dolomites. This museum contains a summit observation platform that offers a 360° panorama of the surrounding Dolomites.<ref name="mmm-dolomites">{{cite web|title=MMM Dolomites |work=Messner Mountain Museum |url=http://www.messner-mountain-museum.it/en/dolomites/museum/ |accessdate=October 21, 2016}}</ref> MMM Ortles at Sulden on the Ortler is dedicated to the history of mountaineering on ice and the great glaciers of the world.<ref name="mmm-ortles">{{cite web|title=MMM Ortles |work=Messner Mountain Museum |url=http://www.messner-mountain-museum.it/en/ortles/museum/ |accessdate=October 21, 2016}}</ref> MMM Ripa at {{ill|Bruneck Castle|it|Castello di Brunico}} in South Tyrol is dedicated to the mountain peoples from Asia, Africa, South America and Europe, with emphasis on their cultures, religions, and tourism activities.<ref name="mmm-ripa">{{cite web|title=MMM Ripa |work=Messner Mountain Museum |url=http://www.messner-mountain-museum.it/en/ripa/museum/ |accessdate=October 21, 2016}}</ref> MMM Corones on the summit plateau of Kronplatz (2,275 m), is dedicated to traditional mountaineering.<ref>{{cite web|title=MMM Corones|url=http://www.messner-mountain-museum.it/en/corones/museum/|website=Messner Mountain Museum|accessdate=21 October 2016}}</ref>
== Projects == {{Location_map+|Italy North|width=500|float=left|caption=Position of the six museums|places= {{Location_map~|Italy_North|lat=46.480278|long=11.305389|position=bottom|label=MMM Firmian|label_size=75}} {{Location_map~|Italy_North|lat=46.530580|long=10.579201|position=left|label=MMM Ortles|label_size=75}} {{Location_map~|Italy_North|lat=46.386936|long=12.256666|position=right|label=MMM Dolomites|label_size=75}} {{Location_map~|Italy_North|lat=46.651667|long=10.967528|position=top|label=MMM Juval|label_size=75}} {{Location_map~|Italy_North|lat=46.794472|long=11.939769|position=top|label=MMM Ripa|label_size=75}} {{Location_map~|Italy_North|lat=46.739529|long=11.959999|position=bottom|label=MMM Corones|label_size=75}} }}
=== Firmian === thumb|Sigmundskron Castle The centrepiece of the Messner Mountain Museum is based in Sigmundskron Castle ({{coord|46.480598|11.30484|region:IT-BZ_type:landmark|name=Messner Mountain Museum Firmian}}) near Bolzano, Italy, and addresses the subject of man's encounter with the mountains.<ref name="mmm-firmian"/> The castle dates to the Late Middle Ages and houses the museum's headquarters, administration and event facilities. There is a rock theatre that seats 200 people. The museum was opened on 11 June 2006 after three years of restoration to the virtually ruined castle.<ref name="mmm-firmian"/>
The concept at ''MMM Firmian'', as this hub of the museum is known, is based on three strands: the castle, the restoration and the exhibitions. The appearance of the castle has not been destroyed by modern alterations. The architect, Werner Tscholl, paid attention to the fact that the historical building had to retain its originality; for example, the new glass roof structures and pipes or cables of any kind are not visible from the outside.<ref name="mmm-firmian"/>
The ''MMM Firmian'' itself covers an area of 1,100 square metres. The theme of the museum is the history and art of mountaineering. Messner wants to show "what effect the mountain has on people".<ref name="mmm-firmian"/> as well as giving an understanding of mountains and mountain peoples.<ref name="mmm-firmian"/> He demonstrates this by means of pictures, sculptures, symbolic objects and memorabilia of various expeditions, which are portrayed as part of a tour through the castle. Messner also shows the history of alpinism and the impact of alpinism and tourism on nature and the environment. A separate exhibition on the history of the castle and the region is in a tower.<ref name="mmm-firmian"/>
=== Juval === thumb|right|Juval Castle This part of the MMM is housed within Juval Castle ({{coord|46.651531|10.968019|region:IT-BZ_type:landmark|name=Messner Mountain Museum Juval}}) near Naturns, a late-medieval castle, and was opened in 1995.<ref name="mmm-juval"/> This castle is privately owned by Messner and he uses it as his summer residence.
This MMM deals with the mountains as places of mystery and spirituality.<ref name="mmm-juval"/> Its main focus is the sacred mountains of the world such as Kailash, Mount Fuji or Ayers Rock. In addition, Tibetan exhibits such as precious Buddha sculptures and a giant prayer wheel are displayed. There is also an exhibition on Gesar Ling, an epic Tibetan king, a tantric room and an expedition room in the basement. Finally there is a collection of masks, displays on aspects of animism and mountain images in the keep.<ref name="mmm-juval"/>
=== Dolomites === thumb|Messner Mountain Museum in Monte Rite, Dolomites. ''MMM Dolomites'' is housed in a First World War fort at a height of 2,181 metres on {{ill|Monte Rite|it}} ({{coord|46.38393|12.254713|region:IT-BL_type:landmark|name=Messner Mountain Museum Dolomites}}) between Cortina d’Ampezzo and Pieve di Cadore. This "museum in the clouds" was opened in 2002 and has the "vertical world" of the Dolomites as its theme.<ref name="mmm-dolomites"/> It covers the history of the opening up of the Dolomites as well as aspects of Alpine history and its protagonists.<ref name="mmm-dolomites"/>
=== Ortles === The fourth part of the MMM is laid out underground below the Ortler in Sulden.<ref name="mmm-ortles"/> Since opening in 2004, subjects such as the eternal ice and the Ortler are covered in an exhibition space of 300 square metres, with exhibitions on skiing, ice climbing, the Arctic and the Antarctic.<ref name="mmm-ortles"/> Visitors are able to go inside the mountain and its glacier.<ref name="mmm-ortles"/>
Also in Sulden is the museum ''Alpine Curiosa'' ({{coord|46.529402|10.58548|region:IT-BZ_type:landmark|name=Messner Mountain Museum Ortles–Alpine Curiosa}}) in a twelve square metre little old cottage called ''Flohhäusl'', with portrayals of 13 legendary mountaineering stories (from Yogi Milarepa to Messner himself), which offers a different interpretation of mountaineering and where alpine curiosities are displayed.<ref name="mmm-ortles"/>
=== Ripa === thumb|Bruneck Castle The fifth part of the MMM is ''MMM Ripa'' at {{ill|Bruneck Castle|it|Castello di Brunico}} ({{coord|46.794299|11.939497|region:IT-BZ_type:landmark|name=Messner Mountain Museum Ripa}}) above the town of Bruneck. This is planned to open in Spring 2011 and is intended as an interactive museum, which will offer a forum for various mountain peoples to exchange experiences with the local farming community. Guests from other mountain regions will spend a summer here and talk about their lives. Examples that Messner has given include the Sherpas, South American Indians, Tibetans, Mongols or Hunzas.<ref name="mmm-ripa"/>
=== Corones === [[File:Messner Mountain Museum am Kronplatz.JPG|thumb|Messner Mountain Museum on the Kronplatz]] The sixth and last museum of the MMM network, the ''MMM Corones'', was built on the top of the Kronplatz mountain (''Plan de Corones'' in Ladin and Italian) at an altitude of 2,275 meters above sea level. Opened in July 2015, the museum, a modern structure designed by renowned British architect Zaha Hadid, has a floor area of 1,000 square meters and features a permanent exhibition dedicated to traditional climbing and mountaineering.<ref>{{cite web|title= Zaha Hadid's MMM Corones museum gazes at the mountains | url=https://www.inexhibit.com/case-studies/corones-museum-zaha-hadid-gazing-mountains | author= Federica Lusiardi |publisher=Inexhibit|accessdate=July 24, 2015}}</ref>
== Cost and financing == The cost of the project is estimated at up to €30 million, split between Messner and the province of South Tyrol. The latter funded the restoration and expansion of the old buildings; in return, Messner has to maintain the exhibitions without subsidy for 30 years.<ref name="mmm-firmian"/> The restoration of the old fort on the Monte Rite was undertaken by the region of Venetia together with the municipality of Pieve di Cadore.<ref>[http://www.dolomiti.it/ger/speciali/museonuvole/museo.htm Ein Treffpunkt in den Wolken (dolomiti.it)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040830221233/http://www.dolomiti.it/ger/speciali/museonuvole/museo.htm |date=2004-08-30 }}</ref> For renovating and developing the ''MMM Bergvölker'' costs of between three and four million euros have been suggested, 80% of which will be borne by the province of South Tyrol in order to provide financial support to the municipality of Bruneck.<ref>[http://www.provinz.bz.it/lpa/285.asp?redas=yes&aktuelles_action=4&aktuelles_article_id=201394 Pressemitteilung der Südtiroler Landesregierung dated 28 January 2008]</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Messner Mountain Museum}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140716041303/http://www.messner-mountain-museum.it/messner-mountain-museum,pid,1,lid,en,meid,1242637819,mid,1242637817,first,1.html Official website]
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Category:Bolzano Category:History of mountaineering Category:Museums in South Tyrol Category:Sports museums Category:Natural history museums in Italy Category:Mountaineering in Italy Category:Alps museums Category:Himalayan studies Category:Reinhold Messner