Musei della Cartiera Papale
Renaissance complex on the Castellano river with the Museo della Carta (Paper Museum), ancient mills, the Museo di Storia Naturale “Antonio Orsini” and a water exhibition; currently closed to the public.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Musei della Cartiera Papale are housed in a large building on the historic outskirts of Ascoli Piceno, on the right bank of the Castellano river, where mills and a paper mill harnessing water power had stood since the Middle Ages. A bull of Innocent III of 1199 already lists three mills along the river among the possessions of the convent of Sant'Angelo Magno. The present complex was built at the beginning of the 16th century at the initiative of Pope Julius II della Rovere, as the inscriptions on the two travertine portals of the façade recall. The design was entrusted to the architect Alberto da Piacenza, with the contribution of Cola dell'Amatrice.
The building, owned by the Province of Ascoli Piceno, was restored between 1989 and 1995 and houses several sections. The Museo della Carta presents reconstructions of the machinery used in the past, from the vats for fermenting rags to the water-powered stamping hammers, with images, videos and sounds that follow the course of the water. Paper-making workshops using ancient techniques are held periodically. The section “Gli Antichi Mulini” (The Ancient Mills) displays the remains and reconstructions of millstones, with interactive multimedia stations.
On the upper floor are the Museo di Storia Naturale “Antonio Orsini” (Antonio Orsini Natural History Museum), with the natural history collection of the Ascoli-born scientist displayed in 19th-century furnishings, and the interactive laboratory “Tutta l'Acqua del Mondo” (All the Water in the World), on human settlements and on the landscape shaped by water. The complex also houses the Biblioteca provinciale di storia contemporanea “Ugo Toria” (Ugo Toria Provincial Library of Contemporary History), with about 20,000 volumes and a collection on the Resistance in the Marche. The official website states that the museums are not currently open to visitors.
Highlights
- Museo della Carta with reconstructions of water-powered vats and hammers
- Ancient mills on the Castellano river, documented from 1199
- Museo di Storia Naturale “Antonio Orsini” with 19th-century furnishings
- Interactive laboratory “Tutta l'Acqua del Mondo”
- Renaissance building commissioned by Pope Julius II
Permanent exhibitions
- Museo della Carta – Reconstructions of paper-making machinery, with a multimedia route on water.
- Museo di Storia Naturale «Antonio Orsini» – The natural history collection of the Ascoli-born scientist, in its original 19th-century furnishings.
- Tutta l'Acqua del Mondo – Interactive laboratory on the second floor, with videos, three-dimensional maps and themes on water and the landscape.
- Founded
- 2006
- Operated by
- Provincia di Ascoli Piceno
- Visitors per year
- approx. 5,625
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Students and reduced-rate visitors |
| Students & apprentices | €3 |
Tariffs were published on the official website before the closure.
Accessibility
The complex is temporarily closed to the public, and no reopening date is given.
Kids & families
The complex is temporarily closed to the public, and no reopening date is given.
Getting there & parking
The complex is temporarily closed to the public, and no reopening date is given.
Amenities & dining
The complex is temporarily closed to the public, and no reopening date is given.
Events & venue rental
The complex is temporarily closed to the public, and no reopening date is given.
