Museo del ferro – La fucina di San Bartolomeo
Industrial archaeology workshop-museum in Brescia, in the historic Fucina Caccagni, on the history of iron working and waterwheels.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum is housed in the Fucina Caccagni in the San Bartolomeo district of Brescia, which the Fondazione Civiltà Bresciana bought in 1984 to create a workshop-museum of industrial archaeology. It is now one of the venues of MUSIL, the Museo dell’Industria e del Lavoro di Brescia, and since 2023 has been a member of the ERIH (European Route of Industrial Heritage) network.
The route tells the story of waterwheels and iron working, from grindstones (mole) to the model of a blast furnace, through to the forge and the power hammer (maglio), and the industrial history of the Brescia area. Interactive features include a siderite sample from the Pezzaze mine that visitors can touch, immersive videos, a quiz with QR codes and models that start when a button is pressed.
Highlights
- Forge and power hammer of the historic Fucina Caccagni
- History of waterwheels and iron working
- Siderite sample from the Pezzaze mine to touch
- Immersive videos and quiz with QR codes
- ERIH member since 2023
Permanent exhibition
- La storia del ferro e delle ruote idrauliche – Route on iron working, from grindstones to the blast furnace model, the forge and the power hammer, with interactive features.
- Operated by
- Fondazione Civiltà Bresciana (MUSIL)
- Visitors per year
- approx. 1,050
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4under 18s, over 70s, holders of partner-scheme cards, teachers and groups of at least 15 people |
| Children & teens | €4free up to age 5 · Free admission for under 6s. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €4 per personGroups of at least 15 people; escorts free. |
| Families | –Free admission from the second child onwards. |
| Guided tour for groups (minimum 10 people), full price | €9Museum admission included |
| Guided tour for groups (minimum 10 people), reduced | €6Museum admission included |
Full price €6; reduced €4; free for under 6s and for group escorts; families: free from the second child. Guided tours (€9 full price, €6 reduced, per person, for groups of at least 10 people) include admission and can be booked all year round.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The ground floor with the permanent exhibition is wheelchair accessible, with accessible toilets; the Sala del maglio (power hammer room) is only partly accessible due to heritage constraints. There is a tactile map with Braille, objects to touch and some videos with subtitles or in Italian Sign Language (LIS). Dogs and cats are admitted on a lead (large dogs muzzled).
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
- Hands-on stations
Interactive features include a siderite sample to touch, a quiz with QR codes and models to start with a button. Family ticket free from the second child.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
From Brescia station it is about 4 minutes on foot to the metro; take the metro towards Prealpino for about 15 minutes, then about 12 minutes on foot along Via dell’Arsenale to Via del Manestro.
By car from the A4, exit Brescia Ovest: take the western ring road (tangenziale ovest) towards Valtrompia for about 7 km, then Via Monte Lungo, Via Stretta and Via dell’Arsenale to Via del Manestro.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours can be booked all year round on +39 340 608 6855. Audio guides are available in Italian, English, French and German. |
