The Fabric Museum in Prato

The museum was founded in 1977 by the Textile Museum Foundation, with the aim of conserving and enhancing the textile heritage of Prato, a city with a long tradition in this sector.

The museum’s collection includes more than 50,000 objects, including textiles, machinery, tools and documents. The fabrics cover a time span ranging from ancient times to the present day, and come from all over the world. The machinery collection includes examples of ancient and modern textile machines from different parts of Europe and the world. The collection of tools includes tools for spinning, weaving and dyeing fabrics. The collection of documents includes drawings, sketches and other documents related to the history of weaving.

The museum is organized into four sections:

• History of weaving: this section traces the history of weaving from ancient times to the present day, through the exhibition of fabrics, machinery and documents.
• Fabrics of the world: this section presents a selection of fabrics from all over the world, representative of different textile traditions.
• Textile machines: this section hosts a collection of ancient and modern textile machines, coming from different parts of Europe and the world.< /li>
• Dye and dyes: this section presents a selection of tools and materials used for dyeing and coloring fabrics.

The museum offers a series of educational and cultural activities, aimed at audiences of all ages. Among the most popular activities, we highlight:

• Guided tours: Guided tours are an excellent opportunity to learn about the history and collections of the museum.
• Educational workshops: educational workshops are a fun and engaging way to learn about the world of weaving.
• Temporary exhibitions: the museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions dedicated to specific themes related to weaving.

The Textile Museum is an important cultural institution, which contributes to preserving and enhancing the history and culture of weaving. It is an unmissable stop for anyone visiting Prato or interested in the history and culture of fabric.

Here are some tips for visiting the Textile Museum:

• Book your visit in advance, especially if you are traveling in high season.
• Wear comfortable clothes, as you will be walking for some time.
• Bring a camera with you to immortalize your memories.

The Textile Museum is open from Tuesday to Thursday from 10am to 3pm, from Friday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm and on Sunday from 3pm to 7pm. Entrance it is 8 euros for adults, 6 euros for groups and affiliated members and 5 euros for children aged 7 to 18.