Museo Tattile Varese
Museum at Villa Baragiola in Varese where visitors explore wooden tactile models of landscape, architecture, art and design with their hands.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo Tattile Varese is housed in Villa Baragiola, in the locality of Masnago, and is created and run by the Associazione Controluce ODV of Comerio. The basic idea is to reverse the rule of museums around the world, where touching is forbidden: here, getting to know things through touch is an opportunity to understand the world, art and design.
The visit is open both to sighted people, who can follow the route blindfolded, and to people who cannot see, who can thus learn with their hands what others learn with their eyes. For this reason, visitors bring their own blindfold from home.
The museum holds a collection of tactile wooden models which, like a three-dimensional encyclopaedia to leaf through with your hands, reproduce aspects of landscape, architecture, art, archaeology and design. The programme includes tactile workshops for schools, birthday parties at the museum with a “eyes closed” visit, and a podcast.
Highlights
- Tactile wooden models of landscape, architecture, art and design
- Visit with blindfolds
- Collection as a “three-dimensional encyclopaedia” to leaf through with your hands
- Tactile workshops for schools
- Birthday parties at the museum with an “eyes closed” visit
Permanent exhibition
- Modelli tattili – Collection of wooden models to explore with your hands, covering landscape, architecture, art, archaeology and design.
- Founded
- 2011
- Operated by
- Associazione Controluce ODV
- Visitors per year
- approx. 5,000
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5children aged 5 to 14, people over 70 and companions of people with disabilities |
| Children & teens | €5Reduced rate for children aged 5 to 14; the museum is recommended from age 5. |
| Seniors | €5Reduced rate for people over 70. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission for people with disabilities. |
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is designed to be explored by touch, including by people who cannot see; sighted visitors can follow the route blindfolded.
Kids & families
Great for kids & familiesRecommended for ages 5+
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Kids’ birthday parties
Visits recommended from age 5; birthday parties at the museum with an “eyes closed” visit, a workshop and a snack (info: +39 329 951 3001).
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bus line E.
By car
Parking available
Large car park in front of the entrance to Villa Baragiola and another in via Borghi, from which the museum is reached on foot through the park.
By car: via Caracciolo 46, Masnago.
Get directionsAmenities & 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
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Visitors must bring their own blindfold from home. Tactile workshops for schools (programme 2026-2027) and birthday parties at the museum. |
