Museo dello Spazzacamino
The only museum in Italy dedicated to the chimney sweep trade, in the park of Villa Antonia in Santa Maria Maggiore, with an exhibition route and a multisensory route.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum of Santa Maria Maggiore, in the heart of the Valle Vigezzo, is the only one in Italy dedicated to the trade of the chimney sweep, and it also recalls the emigration of people from the Vigezzo around the world. It is in the historic centre, within the park of Villa Antonia, a building that in the past housed painters and goldsmiths.
The trade dates back to the 14th century, and already on 16th-century maps the valley appears as the Valle degli Spazzacamini (Valley of the Chimney Sweeps). In the 16th century many men emigrated to France, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands; some returned with a modest fortune and new experience. Between the 19th and 20th centuries child labour was a social scourge: hundreds of children, known as piccoli rüsca, left their families in winter to work hard until spring.
The route is spread over two levels: the ground floor houses the exhibition area with work uniforms, antique tools, vintage bicycles, prints, paintings and furnishings, while the first floor offers an interactive and multisensory route made of sounds, noises and sensations. Every year the museum is also linked to the Raduno internazionale dello spazzacamino (International Chimney Sweeps' Gathering), which has drawn chimney sweeps and visitors from all over the world for over forty years.
Highlights
- The only Italian museum dedicated to the chimney sweep trade
- Work uniforms, antique tools and vintage bicycles
- Prints, paintings and furnishings on emigration from the Vigezzo
- Interactive and multisensory route on the first floor
- Located in the park of Villa Antonia
Permanent exhibition
- Percorso espositivo e multisensoriale – Ground floor: work uniforms, antique tools, vintage bicycles, prints and paintings on the chimney sweep trade. First floor: an interactive route with sounds, noises and sensations.
Admission & discounts
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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
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Groups of at least 10 people can book even when the museum is normally closed, via the online form, by e-mail or by phone. The museum offers primary schools (adaptable for lower secondary schools) two educational routes on children's rights and child labour. |
