Museo del Vetro di Empoli

About the museum

The Museo del Vetro was inaugurated on 1 July 2010 and is the youngest of the Empoli museums, but it grew out of a long process. Glass production in Empoli is documented from the 15th century and received a strong boost from the second half of the 18th century; the Del Vivo e Ristori glassworks was active from 1830 to 1984. From the 1980s the historic glassworks moved out of the centre or closed.

To preserve the memory of this tradition the Centro di Documentazione del Vetro was founded in 1996, and in 1997, in the Convento degli Agostiniani, the exhibition “Il vetro si racconta” (Glass Tells Its Story) was set up. Numerous donations from collectors and citizens, including those of Fortunato Morelli and the Gambacciani family, formed the nucleus displayed in the museum since 2010.

The museum is housed in the Magazzino del Sale (Salt Warehouse), one of the oldest buildings in the city, built in 1365 to store salt from the Volterra salt works. The route, accompanied by the documentary “Vetro verde” by Lionetto Fabbri (1958), presents on the ground floor the first production of green glass, its places and stages of work; the upper floor is dedicated to the artistic glass of the 1930s and to creations in white, coloured and crystal glass.

Highlights

• Bottles, flasks and demijohns of Empoli green glass
• Artistic glass of the 1930s and production up to the 1970s
• Documentary “Vetro verde” by Lionetto Fabbri (1958)
• Magazzino del Sale of 1365
• Virtual tour and video guides in LIS and International Sign

Permanent exhibition

• Il vetro empolese – Route over two floors on the history of Empoli's glass industry, from everyday green glass to the artistic glass of the 20th century.

Founded

2010

Operated by

Comune di Empoli – Musei di Empoli

Visitors per year

approx. 6,282

Admission & discounts

Admission is also free for school classes from Empoli, accompanying teachers (one per 15 pupils), students of art history, cultural heritage, architecture, academies and conservatories, ICOM members, tourist guides and journalists with a press card. Schools from other municipalities: admission €2 per student. Mu6ei Card: unlimited access to all the Empoli museums.

Accessibility

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

The exhibition is accessible to people with mobility impairments. Video guides in LIS and International Sign, audio guides, audio descriptions, CAA cards (augmentative and alternative communication), Easy to Read guides, video modelling and sensory bags are available, the latter to be collected at the ticket office; there is a tactile route for blind visitors.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Workshops and the “Famiglie al museo” (Families at the Museum) initiatives; the sensory bags for families are collected at the ticket office.

Getting there & parking

By car: from Florence, Pisa or Livorno take the FI-PI-LI expressway to the Empoli exit, then follow the signs for the centre.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Bookshop and tourist information.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit