Museo della stampa
Soncino museum on the history of printing and the Soncino family of Jewish printers, housed in a 15th-century building, with a guided visit included.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum, opened in 1988, occupies a building dating back to the 15th century in the centre of Soncino and is devoted to the history of movable-type printing and to the Soncino family of Jewish printers. Its full name is Museo della stampa – Centro studi stampatori ebrei Soncino.
Its history is intertwined with that of the town: the family of the physician and rabbi Israel Nathan, forced to leave Speyer in Germany because of persecution, obtained permission in 1441 from Francesco I Sforza, Duke of Milan, to lend money against pledges. The founding of the Monte di Pietà (municipal pawnbroking institution) in 1472 hindered this activity and drove them to become printers: Israel Nathan applied Gutenberg's technique to the Hebrew language and set up a printing workshop in Soncino, which in 1488 printed the first complete Hebrew Bible with vowel signs.
His son Giosuè Salomone published about twenty-five editions, while Gershom Soncino continued the business in Brescia, Barco di Orzinuovi, Venice and other cities, printing almost one hundred editions in the vernacular, Latin, Greek and Hebrew over a quarter of a century. The museum displays printing presses, about 70% of which are on the ground floor, and offers workshops in scribal writing and printing.
Highlights
- History of the Jewish printers of Soncino and of the first complete Hebrew Bible of 1488
- Printing presses, largely on the ground floor
- Workshops in scribal writing and in printing with movable type
- 15th-century building in the historic centre of Soncino
Permanent exhibition
- Museo della stampa e gli stampatori Soncino – Rooms with printing presses and documentation on the Soncino family of Jewish printers, active from the 15th century.
- Founded
- 1988
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2.50groups of at least 15 people |
| Groups (15+ people) | €2.50 per personGroups of at least 15 people |
| Families | €6Two adults and minor children. |
The ticket includes the guided visit.
Accessibility
- Partially 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 ground floor, where about 70% of the printing machines are, is accessible to people with disabilities and reduced mobility.
Kids & families
| Family ticket | €6 · Two adults and minor children. |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
Educational workshops for children and young people on writing with a goose quill and ink, and on printing with movable type; family ticket €6.
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 | The guided visit is included in the ticket. It is advisable to phone the museum (+39 0374 83171) or the Pro Loco (+39 0374 84883, info@prolocosoncino.it) before the visit; groups must book at least two days in advance. For schools, from nursery to lower secondary level, there are the workshop in scribal writing and the one in printing with movable type. |
