Museo del Cavallo Giocattolo

About the museum

The museum was inaugurated on 14 April 2000 in Grandate and is presented as the first and only museum in the world dedicated to toy horses. It was the wish of Pietro Catelli, Cavaliere del Lavoro (Knight of Labour) and founder of the Artsana Group, who created it for his eightieth birthday as a lasting gift to his company and the Como area, making his own collection available.

The venue is the former stables of Tornese, a famous trotter who won several world championships in the 1950s: Catelli bought the building and the surrounding land in 1969 and made it the headquarters of Artsana. The exhibition space measures about 400 square metres.

The collection includes over 670 toy horses from the 18th century to today, from all over the world and constantly growing thanks to donations: rocking horses, carousel horses, horses on wheels, tricycle horses, horses with sulky (racing cart), push-along horses (a pressione), tatà horses, horse-shaped chairs, music boxes and paintings. In 2004 the Lehmann collection was added, with 41 spring-driven toys in printed tinplate made in Germany at the end of the 19th century. The museum has received the Guggenheim Impresa e Cultura award.

Highlights

• Over 670 toy horses from the 18th century to today
• Rocking horses, carousel horses, tatà, tricycle and push-along horses
• Lehmann collection with 41 spring-driven tinplate toys
• Music boxes and paintings dedicated to the horse
• Former stables of the trotter Tornese

Permanent exhibition

• Collezione dei cavalli giocattolo e Collezione Lehmann – Over 670 toy horses from different eras and countries, music boxes, paintings and 41 spring-driven tinplate toys from the Lehmann collection.

Founded

2000

Operated by

Gruppo Artsana

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum has a barrier-free route open to everyone.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum offers workshops for families (for example animated readings with creative activities) and birthday parties in the “Festeggia in Museo” format. In the nearby Chicco Village there is a nursery with changing tables.

Getting there & parking

From Milan about 30 minutes via the A9/E35, exit Como Centro, towards Grandate; from Lugano about 20 minutes via the N2/E35, same exit. The museum is the red-brick building next to Shopping Chicco, recognisable by the large Victorian rocking horse “Roberto” outside.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

In the nearby Chicco Village there is a bar, the museum shop and a nursery with cots and changing tables.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit