MIC – Museo Internazionale della Calzatura «Pietro Bertolini»
Civic museum in the Castello Sforzesco of Vigevano devoted to the history of footwear, from Beatrice d’Este’s slipper to the stiletto heel.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum has been housed since 2003 in the stables (scuderie) of the Castello Sforzesco in Vigevano, a town that for more than a century was Italy’s capital of footwear, and at times the world’s. It is the only public museum in Italy entirely dedicated to the shoe, and it tells both the history and economy of Vigevano through its most important product, and the international evolution of footwear as an object of design and fashion.
The route is organized in sections: the Stanza della Duchessa (Duchess’s Room), the historical section, the section devoted to designers and stylists, the ethnic section with a wunderkammer, famous personalities, historic companies and Parisian bottiers (bespoke shoemakers), up to the last room on the stiletto heel. In Vigevano, craftsmen devised a heel with an aluminum tip, which was more durable and made heels up to 12 centimeters high possible; the prototype is still on display.
The museum’s emblematic work is Beatrice d’Este’s slipper, found in the Castle during building work and dated by carbon-14 to the period of the duchess’s stay. Industrial mass production began in Vigevano in 1866 with the Bocca brothers.
The museum is run by the Comune di Vigevano together with other civic collections in the Castle.
Highlights
- Slipper of Beatrice d’Este
- Prototype of the stiletto heel with an aluminum tip
- Section on historic companies and Parisian bottiers
- Ethnic footwear and wunderkammer
- Free audio guide on your own phone
Permanent exhibition
- Da Beatrice d'Este al tacco a spillo – Route through sections from the Renaissance slipper to the shoes of designers and historic companies, up to the stiletto heel.
- Founded
- 2003
- Operated by
- Comune di Vigevano
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3.50over 65s, groups of at least 15 people, Touring Club and FAI members |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · With the Museo della Calzatura + Pinacoteca ticket, under 18s enter free; for tickets with Leonardiana or Torre del Bramante, free under 6. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for visitors with a disability certificate and a companion. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €3.50 per personGroups of at least 15 people. |
| Museo della Calzatura + Pinacoteca + Torre del Bramante | €6.50Reduced €4.50. |
| Leonardiana + Museo della Calzatura + Pinacoteca + Torre del Bramante | €8Single rate. |
The basic ticket covers the Museo della Calzatura and the civic picture gallery (Pinacoteca civica): €5.50, reduced €3.50. Free admission also for school groups, ICOM card holders, Abbonamento Musei Lombardia holders, tour guides and residents of Vigevano.
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
| Audio guide | yes (IT, EN) |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Free audio guides in Italian and English, to be used on your own phone, with Beatrice d’Este as the narrator. Animals are admitted only if carried or in a shoulder bag. Group bookings via the Vigevano Welcome website. |
