Museo della carta
Museum in a 13th-century paper mill in Amalfi, with working machines powered by the water of the Canneto and hand papermaking.
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About the museum
The museum is housed in a 13th-century paper mill which the site describes as unique in the world, in the valley of the Canneto stream, where hand-made paper was produced in Amalfi. The route shows how the stream’s water powered the machines of one of the oldest papermaking industries.
The machines have been restored and still work: during the visit they are set in motion by the force of the Canneto’s water. Among the installations are the wooden hammers (magli), driven by a water wheel, which beat and reduced to pulp the linen, cotton and hemp rags collected in the stone troughs (pile); the Dutch machine, installed on 18 November 1745; the 18th-century presses for removing excess water from the sheets; and the continuous rotary machine (macchina continua in tondo).
The itinerary includes the ticket office with its sales corner, the system of channels and feeder towers, the paper mill, the hall of the “Magistri in arte cartarum” and the “Nicola Milano” library. Visitors can also try making a sheet of paper by hand. The museum is run by the Fondazione Museo della Carta, whose members include the Comune di Amalfi, the Chamber of Commerce of Salerno and other bodies.
Highlights
- 13th-century paper mill with channels and feeder towers
- Restored machines that work, powered by the water of the Canneto stream
- Dutch machine installed in 1745 and 18th-century presses
- Wooden hammers for pulping the rags
- Hand papermaking experience
- “Nicola Milano” library
- Operated by
- Fondazione Museo della Carta
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €4.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3children and people with a disability of more than 33.33% |
| Children & teens | €3free up to age 4 · Free admission from 0 to 4 years. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €3Reduced rate for visitors with a disability of more than 33.33%. |
| Groups (25+ people) | –Group admission from 25 people; the guided group tour (25 people) costs €4.50 per person. |
| Guided tour – adults | €7Children and reduced rate for people with disabilities €6 |
| Guided school tour – primary and lower secondary school | €3.50Upper secondary school €4.50 |
| School visit with hand papermaking experience | €6Single rate per ticket |
| Exclusive private visit – adults | €20Children €15 |
Tickets are bought at the museum ticket office on the day; online purchase is possible only up to 48 hours before the visit. For schools, one place is free for every 15 paying participants (teacher, person with a disability or other companion).
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
The visit with educational workshop and the hand papermaking experience also involve children and school groups.
Getting there & parking
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
Amalfi is entirely a limited traffic zone, and the museum has no car park. It is advisable to leave the vehicle in the public car parks before Piazza Duomo.
From the centre the museum can be reached on foot in about 10–15 minutes along the main road; it is on the left, in the former medieval paper mill.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Shop with local hand-made paper and writing accessories.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours in Italian and English; in French and German on request and subject to availability. A guided tour requires at least two participants, and the average wait is 5–15 minutes. In the visit with educational workshop, visitors try making a sheet of hand-made paper. |
