Since its origins, Boretto has boasted an ancient river shipbuilding tradition. Along Via Argine Cisa, which runs parallel to the river, visitors can explore I Musei dell’Acqua (a series of museums dedicated to water and its related activities): the Museo Casa dei Pontieri, the Museo Multimediale della Bonifica, and the Museo del Po e della Navigazione.

Casa dei Pontieri (location: Via Argine Cisa, 3)

The “Casa dei Pontieri” is a museum which hosts the only permanent exhibition in Italy dedicated to the history of crossing the River Po, created in collaboration with the Istituto dei Beni Culturali (IBC - Institute of Cultural Heritage).

The museum is located in a space that was once part of the side structures of the old bridge connecting Boretto to Viadana, which was destroyed in 1967. Here, the son of the last capo-pontiere - a soldier from the specialized military unit responsible for building bridges - gathered the most significant images capturing life around the bridge and even reconstructed a section of it (scale of 1:10). 

The museum offers a rich visual record of how traditional river-crossing methods evolved over time. On display are objects, equipment, tools, and photographs, each narrating stories of the daily life and customs that existed before the construction of the modern concrete bridge. 

Opening hours: Thursdays from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00 ; Saturdays from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00 ; Sundays from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00

Museo Multimediale della Bonifica - Multimedia Museum of Land Reclamation (location: Via Argine Cisa, 5)

The “Multimedia Museum of Land Reclamation” is located inside the irrigation intake sluice of Boretto (Chiavica di Boretto). This structure features a striking permanent multimedia installation - a blend of sounds and images projected onto the tall interior walls, depicting natural landscapes and aerial views of cultivated fields. The installation was commissioned by the Consorzio di Bonifica dell’Emilia Romagna (Emilia Romagna Reclamation Consortium) and the Fondazione Telecom Italia (Telecom Italia Foundation). 

At the centre stands an impressive 9 m² architectural model, designed to guide and enrich the visitor’s experience. Sounds, lights and images weave a narrative divided into thematic sequences: water, the reclamation machinery, cultivated nature, human labor, the city, and finally, an interpretation of the Consortium’s territory through modern and historical maps. 

Opening hours: from June to October - Saturday afternoons (by request) and Sundays from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:30 to 18:30.

Museo del Po e della Navigazione - Museum of the River Po and Navigation (location: Via Argine Cisa n. 11)

The “Museum of the River Po and Navigation” encapsulates the history of 20th-century Boretto - a pivotal century during which, despite the hardships of two World Wars, the town managed to evolve from a primarily agricultural community into a small but nationally significant manufacturing hub. The museum is dedicated to industrial archaeology and preserves a wide range of objects, tools, and machines used mainly in the first half of the century by the Genio Civile (the State institution responsible for public works) for riverbed maintenance and navigation control. It functioned as a fully self-sufficient yard, capable of producing everything needed for the upkeep of vessels and navigation signals. The museum was established in 1997, initially with equipment provided by the Sezione Autonoma del Genio Civile per il Po. It was officially inaugurated in 1999, but suffered severe damage during the 2000 flood. After restoration, it reopened to the public in 2006. 

Opening hours: from June to October, Saturday afternoons (by request only) and Sundays from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:30 to 18:30.