Museo del tessile

About the museum

The museum arose from the commitment of the association A.R.T.S. Onlus, founded in 2003 by a group of enthusiasts of historic textiles to recover and preserve documents, tools and machines of the textile industry and crafts of Leffe and the area. After an exhibition set up in 2004 at the Pezzoli auditorium, in 2005 the project found a first seat in Via Mosconi, granted by an entrepreneur in memory of his father, Martinelli Ginetto, after whom the museum is named.

On 5 May 2013 the museum moved to its present seat at Via Locatelli 29, in the former primary school gymnasium, set up in an industrial building. The spaces are larger and brighter and include a courtyard, a marquee for events and an educational area. In 2014 Regione Lombardia gave it official recognition as a museum collection.

The route presents historic finds and machinery still in operation: silk breeding and processing, carding machines, wooden and mechanical looms from the Middle Ages to the Jacquard, the napping machine, the fulling mill, dyeing and printing, lace, embroidery and passementerie. For this reason the visit is only possible with a guide.

Highlights

• Working textile machinery, visitable only with a guide
• Silk-processing cycle, from silkworm to thread
• Wooden and mechanical looms, from the Middle Ages to the Jacquard
• Machines for lace, embroidery and passementerie
• Garden with textile and dye plants and an educational room for schools

Permanent exhibition

• Macchine e telai del tessile – Historic finds and working machinery devoted to silk, fibres and spinning, looms, Jacquard weaving, finishing, dyeing, printing, lace and embroidery.

Operated by

A.R.T.S. Onlus

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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 is listed as accessible for people with disabilities. Because the machinery is in operation, visitors are admitted only when accompanied by the guides.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

The educational room offers schools weaving activities with coloured yarns, patchwork with die-cut fabrics and animated films on textile themes. On the occasion of the Festa del Tessile (Textile Festival) live silkworms can be seen, which children can feed with mulberry leaves.

Getting there & parking

The museum is about 20 minutes from the Bergamo toll exit of the A4 motorway and from Orio al Serio airport: from the toll exit follow the signs for Val Seriana, then for Clusone and Leffe.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

Next to the museum is a marquee for events of about 400 square metres.

Plan your visit