It was 1997 when Sergio Sanvido inaugurated the Historical Bicycle Museum, entitled to the memory of a great of the past, the Venetian Toni Bevilacqua, world champion in the discipline of pursuit in 1950 and 1951. Initially, the museum found place at Sergio’s house, on the ground floor, near the historic bicycle shop that still carries his name.
In 2007, Sergio himself donated much of his collection to the Municipality of Cesiomaggiore and it is then transferred to the top floor of the primary school in the country, rearranged and set up to host the new headquarters of the Museum. This one boasts one of the most complete and interesting collections of Italy, where all the exhibits are representative and linked to history of cycling and its protagonists. In fact, the precursors of modern bicycles are exposed: a famous wooden painting of the late eighteenth century; two Michaux bicycles, representing the first pedal machines, and even some grand-bi.
The bicycles collected by Sergio come from all over Europe: a large section, located right at the beginning of the Museum, is dedicated to the bicycles for work, used until the 50s of the twentieth century (you can see the means of the grinder, the ice cream maker, coffee roaster, postman and even fireman). A substantial part is dedicated as well as bicycles for children and tricycles and another for bicycles used in the army. Follows then a section where the various pieces are arranged in chronological order, allowing you to understand the technical evolution of the medium, from the nineteenth to the twentieth century.
Very important is also the core of sports bikes, related to the great champions of cycling: Coppi, Bartali, Nencini, Moser, Pantani, just to name a few. And, next to these wonders: the jerseys signed by the champions, the spectacular covers of the "Domenica del Corriere" designed by Achille Beltrame between 1900 and 1945, period photos and much more.
A curiosity: always by the will of Sergio, in Cesiomaggiore the streets, districts, small and large streets, squares, are all dedicated to cycling champions such as Ottavio Bottecchia, Alfredo Binda, Louis Bobet and many others, along with the legendary characters who made history with athletes of this sport.
For this reason Cesiomaggiore is also known as the "Country of Cycling", the only in the World.
