Bicknell Museum

The Clarence Bicknell Museum is a cultural institution in Bordighera, Italy, dedicated to the archaeological and botanical heritage of western Liguria and the Maritime Alps. Founded in 1888 by the English reverend and scholar Clarence Bicknell, it was the first museum in western Liguria. The institution preserves the founder's systematic documentation of the rock engravings of Monte Bego, alongside his significant botanical research and specimen collections. Today, the museum and its library share a protected block with the International Institute of Ligurian Studies, continuing their role as a center for specialized historical and artistic study.

Clarence Bicknell established the museum in 1888 to house his growing archaeological and botanical collections. Upon his death, the property passed to his nephew, Edward Elhanan Berry, and Berry's wife, Margaret Serocold Berry. Edward had arrived in Bordighera in 1880 at age 19 to open a British bank, and Bicknell instilled in him a passion for botany and history. Edward contributed significantly to the collections and published the 1931 volume At the western gate of Italy, a foundational text on the art and architecture of the Italian Riviera. After Edward's death, Margaret maintained the museum and its cultural activities. During the Fascist period, when the British became persona non grata in Italy, Margaret entrusted the museum and its contents to Nino Lamboglia. Lamboglia had collaborated with her in 1932 to build the future International Institute of Ligurian Studies, ensuring the institution's survival.

The museum's holdings reflect the diverse scholarly pursuits of its founders. The archaeological collection centers on Bicknell's pioneering systematic study of the rock engravings on Monte Bego, encompassing his notes, drawings, casts, and photographs. The botanical collection stems from research published in his reference works, including Flowering plants and ferns of the Riviera (1885) and Flora of Bordighera and San Remo (1896). The associated library is a major resource, holding approximately 85,000 volumes, 3,000 periodicals specializing in local art and history, and 14,000 engravings. Additionally, the institution preserves Clarence Bicknell's personal butterfly collection, regarded as one of the most prestigious in Europe.

Among the most notable holdings are the museum's interior architectural features themselves. Bicknell personally decorated two fine fireplaces with floral and animal motifs. The right fireplace bears a quote from Dante Alighieri, "Non fa scienza senza lo ritener aver inteso" (Don't do science if you do not think you have understood). The left fireplace displays the crests of the museum's collaborators: Clarence Tait, Giovenale Gastaldi, Francesco Giovannelli, and Bicknell. The adjacent International Institute of Ligurian Studies holds Edward Berry's original 1931 book, At the western gate of Italy. The grounds also preserve a fragment of the old Roman road, Via Augusta.

The museum is a rectangular building designed by the English architect Clarence Tait. Its entrance is protected by a portico supported by four Roman-inspired columns. The interior layout draws inspiration from Anglican churches, featuring a podium intended for academic presentations rather than sermons. The building is somewhat concealed at 39 Via Romana, sharing a block with the large villa that serves as the seat of the International Institute of Ligurian Studies. Access is via Clarence Bicknell street, which leads to the gardens and museum entrance. The entire property, including the institute and a portion of the Roman street, is protected by the Superintendence for Architectural Heritage and Landscape of Liguria. The museum sits in a lush garden of old trees, which contains a monument honoring Clarence Bicknell and a fragment of the Roman road. A centenary wisteria decorates the museum portico, and the garden's main feature is a massive Ficus magnolioides, or banyan tree, native to Oceania. Adapting perfectly to the local microclimate, this tree has reached 21 meters in height and 8.6 meters in diameter, incorporating part of the original entry wall and gate into its trunk. It is listed among the monumental trees of Italy by the State Forestry Corps, as is a smaller, highly valued nearby ficus.

The Bicknell Museum is located at 39 Via Romana in Bordighera, Italy. Visitors access the site via Clarence Bicknell street, which leads to the entrance of the shared gardens and the museum. The museum operates in conjunction with the International Institute of Ligurian Studies, which occupies the adjacent villa within the same block. The institution maintains a web presence at http://www.museobicknell.com/.