Museo delle contadinerie e del giocattolo antico
Two private collections of the Balbiano family in the historic cellars of Andezeno: tools and rural Piedmontese life, and antique toys.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Musei di Balbiano were founded in the 1980s, when Francesco Balbiano converted the family farmhouse (cascina) in Andezeno into the company's new base. Direct sales were launched in 1986, and the new cellar was ready in 1988. During the restoration of the historic spaces, many farm tools that had been used until only a few years earlier by the family's elders emerged from the old granary, the stable and the carriage shed.
Rather than discard them, Balbiano had them cleaned and restored, and in the old carriage shed, a large ground-floor space, the idea of a small museum of rural traditions was born; it opened in 1990 as the Museo Balbiano. The collection was enriched with objects donated by neighbours, friends and relatives and with pieces bought at flea markets.
Next to it is the Museo del Giocattolo Antico, born from the founder's passion for period toys, which were found by chance while collecting farm objects and then sought out at flea markets. Today the overall collection counts more than 2,000 items, and the display spaces are almost full. The museums are visited as part of the route through the Cantine Balbiano, by booking only.
Highlights
- Farm tools and everyday objects of rural Piedmontese life
- Collection of antique toys
- More than 2,000 items in total
- Visit to the historic cellars, with optional tasting
Permanent exhibitions
- Museo delle contadinerie – Farm tools and objects of rural use housed in the former carriage shed of the Balbiano farmhouse.
- Museo del giocattolo antico – Collection of period toys bought at flea markets or donated by friends and neighbours.
- Founded
- 1990
- Operated by
- Cantine Balbiano (famiglia Balbiano)
- Visitors per year
- approx. 1,000
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The museum can be visited on its own or with a final tasting, as part of the guided tour of the historic production and ageing cellars. |
