Museo della Carta di Mele
Museum of Genoese paper in the old Piccardo paper mill of 1756, with a hand papermaking workshop and guided tours.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo della Carta di Mele, opened in 1997, preserves the ancient Genoese art of papermaking. From the 15th century, paper production was of great importance to the economy of Voltri and the Valle Leira, and in the 18th century the Genoese paper mills were famous for the strength and durability of their paper, made by hand sheet by sheet from textile fibres.
The seat is the former Piccardo paper mill, built in 1756 and among the last to remain in operation until its closure in 1985. Since 1992 the Comune di Mele has overseen its restoration, with its own funds and those of the European Union and the Provincia di Genova. The museum’s distinctive feature is its location in a historic mill building, where the path that rags and waste paper followed to become new paper is retraced, with machinery, tools, reconstructions and audiovisual displays.
In 2013 a vocational course trained ten “artigiani della carta” (paper craftsmen) and led to the creation of the first Ligurian workshop making paper exclusively by hand, one of five in Italy. The master papermaker (maestro cartaio) leads the visit and has visitors make a sheet of hand-made paper.
Highlights
- Piccardo paper mill of 1756 with original machinery and tools
- Route from rags to new paper
- Hand papermaking workshop
- Making a sheet of hand-made paper during the visit
Permanent exhibition
- Percorso museale della cartiera – The rooms of the historic paper mill with machinery, tools and reconstructions of the route from rags and waste paper to new paper.
- Founded
- 1997
- Operated by
- Comune di Mele
- Visitors per year
- approx. 3,000
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5Groups of 8 people or more, and people with disabilities |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 2 · Children under 3 free of charge. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €5 |
| Groups (8+ people) | €5 per person |
| Guided making of a sheet of hand-made paper during the visit | €4 |
The price of €6 covers the guided visit of about 30 minutes; booking is mandatory.
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 rooms are free of architectural barriers and accessible to all.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 2 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
Workshops for children and adults every Saturday, by booking; during the visit each visitor can make a sheet of hand-made paper.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Genoa–Acqui Terme railway line: Genova Acquasanta station, about a 10-minute walk, or AMT bus 101 (Acquasanta Santuario stop). Genoa–Savona/Ventimiglia lines: Genova Voltri station, then AMT 101 towards Acquasanta (Acquasanta Santuario or Acquasanta Baiarda stop).
By car: Genoa Prà motorway exit, heading west following the signs for Mele, SS1 Aurelia, then SP 456 del Turchino and Via Acquasanta as far as the square of the Santuario di Nostra Signora dell’Acquasanta.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Shop with hand-made paper products.
Events & venue rental
Artists and craftspeople can organise solo exhibitions inside the museum.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 30 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Visits take place only with a guide, and booking is mandatory (by telephone or e-mail). Courses and workshops for children and adults are held every Saturday, by booking. |
