Campagna: Muvar and the history of Val Rosna

Muvar is located in Località Campagna di Sorriva, 32030 Sovramonte (BL), Italy, and is dedicated to the burial of the man of Val Rosna. Its offerings include guided tours, educational workshops, excursions in the surrounding area, and Living History activities. These offerings provide different ways to engage with the subject: guided tours and workshops explore key themes, excursions focus on the surrounding area, and Living History adds activities with a historical connection to the mix.

Muvar and its exhibition rooms

Nine exhibition rooms explore themes related to the burial in greater depth. Their topics range from the discovery sites and the way of life of prehistoric people to the distinctive burial. The rooms give the museum’s subject a clear structure: you can consider the discovery, prehistoric life, and the treatment of the dead as different aspects of the same context. This helps show the significance of the Val Rosna find without reducing it to its age.

The educational offerings complement this focus in different ways. A guided tour and an educational workshop are available at the museum; there are also excursions in the surrounding area and Living History activities. When planning your trip, you can decide whether you would prefer to focus on the exhibition themes or on an activity outside the museum rooms. The offerings differ in format, but all relate to Muvar and its surroundings.

The man of Val Rosna

The man of Val Rosna lived 14,000 years ago. His burial, covered with painted stones, is considered one of the oldest known forms of funerary art. These two details give the find both a temporal and a cultural dimension: its age places it in prehistory, while the design of the burial draws attention to the treatment of the dead.

There is also a possible interpretation of the health of the hunter of Val Rosna: he may have been the first known person to receive dental treatment for a cavity. This brings two different perspectives together: funerary art and possible medical treatment during his lifetime. For those interested in archaeology, this offers more than a date; burial practices and health are also among the questions raised by the find.

Paths and landscape around Sorriva

The “La via dell’acqua: basso corso dell’Ausor” trail runs between the Sorriva plain and the lower course of the Ausor. An e-mountain-bike route starts in Sorriva, passes through Servo towards Aune, then continues via Prese on a gravel road to Col di Mic; from there, it returns to Sorriva. The two routes can be distinguished by the places named: one connects the plain with the lower river course, while the other starts and ends in Sorriva. Trail conditions can change; check them before setting out.

Nearby Sorriva lies on a flat upland landscape where grain, legumes, and potatoes have been grown for centuries. The Chiesa di San Giorgio also rises from the flat area near Sorriva. Agriculture and the church add two specific points of reference to the landscape without replacing Muvar’s archaeological themes.

San Giorgio and local tradition

The annual San Giorgio tradition involves carrying a large copper cauldron of “la menestra de San Dordi,” a bean soup, to homes in the surrounding area. The tradition has been observed every year since 1631. The dish and the journey to the homes give it a tangible form: it is not just about a name, but about sharing a meal again and again. If you would like to include this in your trip, check the dates in advance.

Plan your visit

Muvar is scheduled to close in November; group visits and school class visits are available by reservation. Check in advance whether this applies to your planned visit date.

Discover more destinations: Colle Santa Lucia, Puos Dʼalpago, Farra D'alpago, Comelico Superiore, Salzen, Faller, Nevegal, Spert.

Return to the main travel overview: Belluno.