MATERIA museo

About the museum

The MATERIA museum is located in Usella, a hamlet of Cantagallo, in a complex that over the centuries housed water-powered businesses: a three-stone mill, a fulling mill, an iron forge and a copper-hammer works. Later a charcoal kiln, a dye works and a small hydroelectric plant were added. The site tells the story of the relationship between water and the textile industry in the Prato district, where dyeing required large quantities of water.

The route invites reflection on the environment, technology and sustainability. Its main attractions include the “Confessionale”, where visitors consider their own impact on pollution and make a pledge to adopt more sustainable behaviour, and an augmented reality installation that takes visitors from the Middle Ages, through a medieval fulling mill and a 16th-century dye works, to a vision of the future.

In the underground rooms, known as the “inferno”, there is a wooden horizontal water wheel and the remains of a cast-iron turbine from the late 19th century. The small hydroelectric plant can be visited. The museum is visited by appointment only.

Highlights

• Augmented reality installation from the medieval mill to the 16th-century dye works
• “Confessionale” on the environmental impact of our choices
• Underground rooms with a wooden horizontal water wheel
• Remains of a cast-iron turbine from the late 19th century
• Small hydroelectric plant that can be visited

Admission & discounts

Admission is charged: €10 standard according to the Prato Turismo museum guide (amount to be checked when booking).

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

The museum is located in Usella, a hamlet of Cantagallo, at Via del Mulino di Colle 14.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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Plan your visit