Museo didattico sulla Civiltà della Scrittura
Educational museum of the Musei Civici di San Miniato on the history of writing and numbers, with replicas to touch and workshops for schools.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum grew out of an interactive exhibition set up in 1998 in the undercroft of the Convent of San Francesco in San Miniato. The success of the initiative led to its transformation into a permanent educational museum; in 2001 a second exhibition, “Segni e Lettere”, expanded the route. Today it is part of the Musei Civici di San Miniato.
The route traces the main stages in the history of writing, from stone supports to parchment and on to the computer, with Egyptian and Etruscan writing, the medieval scriptorium and printing with the hand press. One section is devoted to cave paintings, which predate the invention of writing, and another to the history of numbers and calculating systems, including the measurement of time with the gnomon, the sundial and hourglasses.
The museum mainly uses faithful reproductions and facsimiles, which visitors can touch and handle, together with some originals. It is designed in particular for primary and lower secondary school pupils, with workshops in which the children become scribes, copyists or stonecutters.
Highlights
- Replicas of writing supports to touch and handle
- Egyptian and Etruscan writing and the medieval scriptorium
- Printing with the hand press
- Section on the history of numbers and calculation
- Measuring time: gnomon, sundial and hourglasses
- Founded
- 1998
- Operated by
- Comune di San Miniato
Admission & discounts
| Children & teens | –Free for children with disabilities. |
|---|---|
| Visitors with disabilities | –Free for children with disabilities; teachers and accompanying adults of school classes do not pay. |
| Educational visit for schools (without materials) | €3 |
| Workshop for schools (with materials) | €5With discount: €4; two routes: €9. |
| After-school workshop for private individuals | €8 |
| Museum campuses | €10With discount: €9. |
| Special opening | €50 |
Fees apply mainly to classes and groups; the admission includes the visit and one or more workshops.
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 website of the Musei Civici does not publish details of the routes; accessibility information can be found on the linked regional page.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
A museum designed for children and young people, with replicas to touch and workshops on writing, printing and numbers.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
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
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Visits and workshops are always by appointment, by phone on +39 345 303 8991 or by email to sistemamuseale@comune.san-miniato.pi.it or museicivicisanminiato@coopculture.it. |
