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Republic of San Marino
San Marino.
Private museum · Folklore and literature

Museum of
Vampires and Werewolves

An experience dedicated to lovers of mystery and the dark: a journey to discover the most disturbing and at the same time fascinating figures, suspended between reality and imagination, that have always troubled the human mind. Wolf-men, blood-drinking vampires, creatures that populate the collective imagination from Slavic Europe to nineteenth-century gothic literature.

Seat
City
Tone
Themed
Duration
30 - 45 min

Source: museum information material

Atmospheric setting of the Museum of Vampires and Werewolves in the historic centre of San Marino
Creatures of the night
Themed setting
§ I — Between myth and literature

Creatures of the night

The museum works on a double perspective: on one side the folkloric roots of the figures, from Slavic and Balkan traditions to Alpine and Carpathian folk tales; on the other their literary and cinematic metamorphosis. The folkloric vampire, often a revived peasant and village belief, becomes in the nineteenth century the Lord Ruthven of Polidori and the Dracula of Bram Stoker; the werewolf of Northern tales is transformed in its Gothic and then Hollywood incarnations. It is the passage from object of everyday fear to narrative character.

The setting accompanies the route with a careful use of light, sound and stage design. The rooms reconstruct the atmosphere of a house of nocturnal myths: dark wooden doors, period furniture, ancient documents, showcases dedicated to the symbols and typical objects of each figure. It is not a theme park but an exhibition that mixes small collections, documentary reproductions and textual apparatus.

«Studying vampires and werewolves is an oblique way to study the societies that invented them: an exercise in cultural history.»
§ II — Practical information

Seat, duration, pairings

Seat
Historic centre, City of San Marino
Visit duration
30-45 minutes
Audience
From 10-11 years up, with adult accompaniment for younger ones
Pairing
Half-day in the historic centre with Torture Museum and Wax Museum

Hours and tariffs are set by the management. Verification on site is recommended before the visit.

§ III — Further reading

Other routes of mystery

Private museum

Torture Museum

The dark history of coercion techniques told in historical-legal perspective.
Private museum

Wax Museum

Forty historical scenes with one hundred life-size wax figures.
Private museum

Museum of Curiosities

Unusual 18th and 19th century objects, an oblique reading of everyday history.
FAQ · Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

What kind of museum is it?
A private themed museum dedicated to the imagery of creatures of the night: vampires, werewolves, figures of European folklore and mystery literature. It is not a horror museum in the traditional sense.
Where is it located?
In the historic centre of the City of San Marino, in a setting that already lends itself to the tone of the museum.
Is it suitable for children?
Some settings are designed to evoke an unsettling effect and may be demanding for very young children. It is generally appreciated by teenagers, families with pre-adolescents and genre enthusiasts.
Is the route historical or literary?
Both dimensions are present. Part of the exhibition reconstructs the folkloric roots of the figures (Slavic, Carpathian, Balkan traditions), another retraces the way nineteenth-century literature and twentieth-century cinema reworked them.
How long does the visit take?
Between 30 and 45 minutes. The museum combines well with the Wax Museum, the Museum of Curiosities and the Titanus Museum within a half-day in the historic centre.