Museo della Carta di Pescia

About the museum

The museum is at Pietrabuona, in the lower valley of the River Pescia, in the former Le Carte paper mill. The mill was built in 1712 and enlarged in 1725 by the Ansaldi family; in 1825 it passed to Agostino Calamari, and in 1860 it was bought by the Magnani family, who made it the centre of their business success. Until its closure in 1992 it produced exclusively handmade paper. Paper production in the Pescia area is documented from the late 15th century.

The building follows the Genoese-Tuscan paper-mill model: on the ground floor, under cross vaults, the pulp was prepared and the sheets were formed; on the first floor were the finishing workshop and the homes of the papermakers’ families; on the top floor was the drying loft (spanditoio). The 18th- and 19th-century production plant has been preserved. In 1996 the Soprintendenza placed the building under protection, and in 2004 the Associazione Museo della Carta di Pescia ETS bought the mill, which since 2016 has also housed the Archivio Storico Magnani in the restored rooms.

In 2004 the Cartiera Magnani 2000 donated about 7,000 paper-making tools to the Association: watermark forms, watermark wax, punches, watermarked cloths and stamps. The catalogue of these materials, produced with the Soprintendenza of Florence and the ICCD, set the first Italian guidelines for cataloguing antique hand-papermaking tools. The business archive holds documents from the 18th century to the early 2000s.

Highlights

• Le Carte paper mill of 1712 with 18th- and 19th-century production plant
• Collection of about 7,000 paper-making tools: watermark forms, wax, punches and cloths
• Watermark form of 1812 bearing the effigies of Napoleon and Marie Louise of Austria
• Archivio Storico Magnani with documents from the 18th century
• “Sabati col Mastro Cartaio” workshops on handmade paper

Permanent exhibition

• Cartiera Le Carte e Sala Filigrane – Route through the plant of the former paper mill and the Sala Filigrane of the Archivio Storico Magnani, with the collection of paper-making tools.

Operated by

Associazione Museo della Carta di Pescia ETS

Director

Massimiliano Bini

Visitors per year

approx. 2,000

Admission & discounts

Standard route in the Cartiera Le Carte and the Sala Filigrane of the Archivio Storico Magnani; same prices for “I Sabati del Direttore”. Free admission also for accredited journalists and tourist guides with an ID card. Reduced rates and bookshop discounts with SIMUP Card, Carta Socio Unicoop Firenze, Fior di Mutua Card, Edumuseicard, Artsupp Card and IDI Card. Online booking via TuscanyMove (5% commission plus €0.35 per transaction); at the museum you pay in cash, by card or bancomat. Payments are voluntary contributions (erogazioni liberali) to a Third Sector body.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• 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 site does not describe physical accessibility; admission is free for people with disabilities.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Family packages for visits and for the Saturday workshops with the papermaker, for children aged 7 to 18.

Getting there & parking

The museum is about 20 minutes from the Chiesina Uzzanese motorway exit, 35 minutes from Lucca and one hour from Pisa.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Bookshop (discounts for holders of some partner cards).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit