Madonna del Ghisallo

The Museo del Ciclismo Madonna del Ghisallo is a cycling museum in the Italian Magreglio.

History

The 750 meter high Magreglio (about 600 inhabitants) on Lake Como was often finish of stages in the Tour of Lombardy, and the Giro d' Italia; the driveway to place the Ghisallo Pass is feared up to 14 percent because of its steep slope. Is the pilgrimage church built in 1623, dedicated to the Madonna del Ghisallo on the road. The Madonna for many years been considered the patron saint of travelers, until 1948 at the initiative of the village priest, Father Ermelindo Vigano by Pope Pius XII. was officially declared the patron saint of cyclists. Since then, the pilgrimage many successful cyclists to the church and gave their gratitude jerseys, wheels, medals and trophies, among them Gianni Motta, Fausto Coppi, Francesco Moser, Ercole Baldini, Gino Bartali, Marco Pantani and Mario Cipollini. Before the church there are busts of the Father, of Bartali and Coppi and a monument that shows the winner and the loser of a bicycle race.

Beginning of 2002 a new building next to the church announced the former cycling star Fiorenzo Magni as Chairman of the Museum Foundation was founded in 2000, to house and exhibit the numerous memorabilia of cyclists. The Magni died in 2009, is said to have introduced 500,000 euros to the foundation. On 31 May 2006, Pope Benedict XVI. the capstone completion of the construction, whose address is Via Gino Bartali 4 and was opened in October 2006.

Museum

The entrance of the museum leads along a ramp that is meant to symbolize the last climb of the Ghisallo. The museum is divided into five themes: Memorabilia ( Cimeli ) The focus is on people ( Il uomo ed il mezzo: inventors, manufacturers, mechanics, etc.) Great Encyclopaedia of cycling, 24 24 (48 known cyclists ) and 100 film- sul ciclismo.

The museum also has a library with books and journals, and regularly organizes exhibitions and discussion evenings, to which known cyclists are loaded. In the building there is also a bike shop.

Closure

In October 2013 it was announced that the museum from November until April 2014 will be closed for a " winter break ". In fact, the existence of the museum is in danger, as the Lombard government sees unable to continue to provide subsidies. The money of the Foundation is now applied and of " mismanagement " of the question.

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