MANGALURU: In an age where innovations in digital devices and social media dominate our lives, a treasure trove concealed in the sands of time, living and beating in the heart of Mangaluru, offers a profound connection with the past. With its rare collection of artefacts, each with its own fascinating story to tell, ‘Aloyseum’ takes one on a journey through time. From ancient relics to beautiful pieces of art, the exhibits at this museum showcase the rich heritage of the region.
Located on the premises of the prestigious St Aloysius College, Aloyseum was started in 1913 by Italian Jesuit Fr Chiapi with some minerals, herbarium and a collection of Roman coins, a gift from the Collegio Vieta in Italy. Its present location close to the chapel offers easy access to visitors, especially those coming to see the chapel’s paintings. “The museum began as a part of college collections, kept together in a room.
Later, we began looking at the possibility of turning the room into a museum. There was no proper presentation then due to space constraints, but with the growing collection, we shifted it all to a larger building. Five years ago, the exhibits were displayed in a different building, placed in a haphazard way.
After 2019, we shifted them again to the present edifice, where you see a well-planned museum,” Fr Melwin Joseph Pinto, SJ, Rector of St Aloysius Institutions, tells The New Sunday Express. Aloyseum features a spacious main hall with five additional side halls. Wit.