This museum was established following an agreement signed in 2015 between the Department of Humanities at the University of Palermo and the Municipality of Polizzi Generosa to create, within the Municipal Library, a documentary collection on the history of French language and literature teaching.
Thanks to this agreement, the Library was integrated into a European university network for student mobility and the European dimension of education, in which the University of Palermo participates. It was also included in the Forthem project of Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, which promotes multiculturalism and multilingualism in partnership with six European universities. As part of the Forthem project, a study day was held at the Polizzi Library, during which the Library’s President, Ida Rampolla del Tindaro, introduced students from the six universities to Sicilian authors who had written their works in French. The Library was chosen due to its rich collection of rare texts related to French culture, originating from the book collection of Duke Lancia di Brolo, a renowned expert in French studies.
The museum’s initial collection has since been significantly enriched through donations from the President and many members of AMOPA (Association des Membres de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques), an international association for recipients of the French academic honor established by Napoleon for educators of French.
As a result, a unique museum collection of school textbooks from the early 20th century to the present day has been created. These texts, which are typically not preserved in libraries and soon disappear from commercial circulation, provide valuable insights into the history of teaching methodologies, particularly in grammar instruction. They also reflect the evolution of literature education, which has increasingly embraced new techniques for text interpretation in schools.
The same applies to technical, scientific, and commercial textbooks, which require constant updates to keep pace with the advancements of various disciplines and their evolving terminologies. This is also true for history and civilisation textbooks.
A separate section of the museum is dedicated to literary works annotated for educational purposes. These texts allow us to trace changes in readers' preferences and shifts in critical perspectives over time. The introductions and commentaries also reveal the interest that distinguished French scholars—many of them Sicilian, such as Ferruccio Centonze and Guglielmo Lo Curzio—had in education.
Another often-overlooked section includes antique children's books and rare French magazines for boys and girls, which are virtually unavailable in Italy. These materials provide valuable insights into historical pedagogical and educational approaches. Additionally, the museum boasts an extensive collection of modern educational games, many of which are highly innovative.
The creation of this remarkable library collection was supported by the heirs of distinguished university professors and AMOPA members, such as Professors Fiorella Brisotto from Bergamo, Anna Maria Rubino, and Laura Catalano from Palermo. Their families donated their personal libraries to the museum in recognition of their significant contributions to the history of language teaching.
Equally important are the personal donations of other AMOPA members and university professors, including Carla Averso Giuliani from Rome and Jacqueline Lillo from Palermo.
The museum was officially inaugurated in Polizzi on March 23, 2024, as part of the activities marking the twinning between AMOPA Italy and AMOPA Monaco. The Monegasque delegation included the Minister of Education, who greatly appreciated the museum’s originality and the interest shown by a Sicilian town in multiculturalism.
This visit led to the development of new intercultural exchange projects and the establishment of a prize, funded by the Minister, for the best students of French.
Where
Via Garibaldi, 13 - Palazzo della Cultura, Polizzi Generosa
Opening days
Every day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. by appointment
Additional Info
Free admission
