Museo della Carta e della Filigrana

About the museum

The Museo della Carta e della Filigrana in Fabriano is housed in the monumental complex of the former Dominican convent and tells the story of seven hundred years of local papermaking tradition. In a large fourteenth-century hall on the ground floor a medieval fulling mill (gualchiera) for making hand-made paper has been reconstructed.

The route is divided into sections that move from the manual production of paper and its uses to the collection of watermarks, with explanations of the techniques used to make them; to the historical journey of paper; to the stages of development of this art in the Fabriano area; and to the processes of manufacture and the related technology, from the stamping mill (pila a magli) to vat production, from sizing to calendering. One section is devoted to printing and writing, with the section “Civiltà della Scrittura” (Civilisation of Writing) in Piazza Francesco Fabi Altini.

Visits are led by guides in Italian, French, English and Spanish and include a live demonstration of hand-made paper production by the museum's master papermakers, an explanation of ancient and modern production techniques, and the story of paper told through its machinery. The museum also offers educational workshops and residential courses to learn how to make paper.

Highlights

• Medieval fulling mill reconstructed in a fourteenth-century hall
• Live demonstration of hand-made paper production
• Collection of watermarks and explanation of the technique
• Stamping mill and machinery for paper processing
• “Civiltà della Scrittura” section on printing and writing
• Educational workshop for making your own sheet of paper

Permanent exhibition

• Percorso permanente sulla carta e sulla filigrana – From the reconstructed medieval fulling mill to hand-made paper production, watermarks, the history of Fabriano paper and printing presses.

Operated by

Comune di Fabriano

Visitors per year

approx. 50,000

Admission & discounts

Free admission also for residents of the Comune di Fabriano, student groups from schools based in Fabriano, licensed tourist guides, ICOM card holders and journalists accredited by the Ufficio Cultura. Partner agreements with the MAMB, the Grotte di Frasassi and the Musei Civici di Sassoferrato. With the museum ticket you can also visit the Pinacoteca Civica di Fabriano.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Educational workshop to make your own sheet of paper; family ticket for two adults and one child.

Getting there & parking

By car from Ancona: A14 motorway, Ancona nord exit, or the SS76 expressway, Fabriano est exit. From Rome: A1, Orte exit, the Flaminia state road, then SS76, Fabriano ovest exit. From Falconara's Raffaello Sanzio airport: SS76 towards Rome, Fabriano est exit.

Amenities & 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