Casa dell’Agronomo

The building that houses the new exhibition space was constructed during the so-called Ponticellian period — Ponticelli served as Director of the Pianosa prison between 1871 and 1881 — and was certainly completed before 1875, as documented by a print bearing that date showing the building finished. The Casa dell’Agronomo was not built solely for the Agronomist, who did indeed reside there, but also to house other employees of the Agricultural Penal Colony. It is undoubtedly one of the finest buildings on the entire island, constructed in the eclectic style fashionable at the time, with decorative elements found in several other structures on the island, including the Forte Teglia and the Palazzo della Specola. The Casa dell’Agronomo was restored, fitted out and opened to the public on 26 August 2022: it tells the story of Pianosa, the prison and agriculture, and the figure of the Agronomist. Through display panels, interactive videos and audio trails, it illustrates the island’s agricultural biodiversity, its natural features and the historical period that profoundly transformed it — including its reshaping through the establishment of the Agricultural Penal Colony.

The ground floor is dedicated to the history of Pianosa: in the first room, the image of the Agronomist Ponticelli appears in a video welcoming visitors. A timeline displayed on a large panel guides guests through the history of the island, connecting it to its geological, archaeological and architectural landmarks. The upper floors are dedicated to the island’s natural environment. The territory of Pianosa is illustrated by an interactive scale model. By pressing different buttons, visitors can listen to audio descriptions while the corresponding areas of the island light up, revealing the distribution of its various habitats: submerged and surface cliffs, beaches, sandy seabeds, scrubland, garrigue and abandoned pastures. One room is dedicated to the International Sanctuary for the Protection of Marine Mammals “Pelagos”, an area of exceptional biodiversity within which the National Park is fully located. The top floor hosts display panels on the fauna of Pianosa and a birdwatching-style station where visitors can observe reproductions of different bird species and listen to their calls. Descending back to the ground floor towards the exit, visitors are greeted by the island’s seabed, projected across the walls through underwater videos for a virtual dive into the waters of Pianosa. Throughout the entire route, tactile panels, Braille text and audio guides are available to support visually impaired visitors.

The ground floor of the Casa dell’Agronomo also houses the Info Park point, welcoming visitors as they arrive on the island. Park Guides provide information on daily tours and excursions, and a bookshop offers informational materials, souvenirs and publications about the protected area.