The museum is set up in Saint Paul’s Conversion Church in Roccapelago, a small hamlet in the upper Frignano area, and houses one of the most amazing archaeological discoveries in northern Italy in recent years.

The basement of the ancient Montegarullo Castle, located underneath the church and formerly used as a cannon house, was transformed into a cemetery crypt in the XVIth century, which was brought to light in January 2011 during the archaeological excavations carried out under the scientific direction of the Emilia Romagna Superintendency.

The crypt, discovered during the restoration works on the church, yielded approximately 281 natural mummies of children and adults still showing skin, tendons and hair, and which were placed inside the room in a sack or shroud, one on top of the other, dressed in a tunic, heavy stockings, and bonnets, buried together with small everyday objects.

The museum, realized thanks to the commitment of the Province of Modena, the Mountain Community of Frignano and the Municipality of Pievepelago, was created on the initiative of the “Pro Rocca” Voluntary Association, which has been working for years to protect, study and enhance these places.

The museum retraces the events that took place in the last decade of the XIVth century through panels arranged in chronological order, showing photos of the original illustrations, pen drawings by the librarian Salvator Bongi, and accounts of the events illustrated with valuable watercolour miniatures, taken from the "Croniche" by Giovanni Sercambi, a historian from Lucca born in 1348.

Enriching the documentary part is a stimulating diorama on the siege of Roccapelago. There are medieval weapons on auction, maces, axes, swords and armour expertly reproduced from original models by Del Tin, a world-famous artist from Maniago.

A touch of refinement could not be missing on display: the elegant and attractive medieval costumes once worn by people of high social standing.

Thanks to the willingness and collaboration of the Parish, it is possible to visit the Church of the Conversation of St Paul the Apostle, rich in valuable paintings.

It stands on a rocky outcrop with only one access road. On its top a fortress was built, garrisoned between 1370 and 1400 by Obizzo from Montegarullo, one of the most powerful lords of Frignano, who rebelled against the rule of the Este family at the end of the XIVth century.

In the XVIth century, when the military complex was no longer in use, part of the fortress was readapted to create a parish church that reached its maximum territorial jurisdiction in the XVIIth century.

The church also contains an organ dating from 1722, made by Domenico Traeri.

Every year on 15th August, it is possible to attend concerts organised by the Voluntary Association “Pro Rocca”.