The building housing the Museum, the historic "Cimatoria Campolmi Leopoldo e C.," is a monument of industrial archaeology and the only large nineteenth-century factory built within Prato's medieval city walls.
The architectural complex constitute the city's main cultural centre; the Museum occupies half of the space, about 4000 square metres, while the other half houses the "A. Lazzerini" Municipal Library.
-
Opening days
From Tuesday to Sunday
-
Opening times
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10.00-15.00
- Friday, Saturday 10.00- 19.00
- Sunday 15.00-19.00
Last entry 30 minutes before closing time
-
Closing
Monday
- Web Textile Museum of Prato
-
Feature List
- Info line
- Wheelchair accessible
-
Accessibility
The site is accessible
-
Info Reservation
Individuals and groups +39 05741837859
Schools +39 0574611503
- BACKGROUND
The former Campolmi Textile Mill is perhaps the most important example of industrial archaeology within the Province of Prato. The large 8500 square metre complex located within the historic centre had been a site of textile manufacture since the Middle Ages.
In correspondence with the current factory, prior to 1326, historical records attest to the existence of a fulling mill (a building for the fulling of cloth). It was acquired by the Church and transformed into a mill that was active throughout the whole of the eighteenth century. In March of 1863, the Mill of Santa Chiara was bought by three established entrepreneurs from Prato, who transformed it into a well-established company operating in the finishing of textiles.
At the end of the nineteenth century, the building was a double storey quadrilateral shape around a rectangular courtyard, featuring a large tank for water collection and a 40-metre high brick chimney at the centre.
The factory only reached the current size and conformation in the middle of the twentieth century thanks to modifications and expansions, such as the construction of the beautiful vaulted arched dye-works, which now houses the entrance to the library.
Textile production ceased in 1994.
- YOUR VISIT
The Museum offers the opportunity to discover the ancient and contemporary fabrics and textile traditions of the city of Prato.
You can stroll through the picturesque restored spaces of the former factory and admire the collections, manipulate materials and fibres, experience multimedia content and have fun with the interactive exhibits
Services
-
Visits
for individuals and groups by reservation
available in Italian, English -
Didactics for schools
by reservation
available in Italian, English - Audioguide
- Bookshop
- Cafés and food Courts
- Wardrobe
Additional Info
GROUPS
- Access is allowed for groups up to a maximum of 24 participants and a companion, necessarily equipped with a whisper system (microphone and earphones), regardless of the number of members of their group.
- Compulsory booking of the entry shift for groups with their own guide. Entrance ticket to buy at the ticket desk of the Museum.
- Groups have the opportunity to book even outside opening hours (minimum of 10 people and with at least one week's notice).
- The maximum duration of the visit for groups is 1 hour. Please note that if you wish to extend the duration of the visit, it will be necessary to contact the ticketing and reception staff who control and manage the flow of visitors to agree on the procedures in compliance with safety regulations.
Where
via Puccetti, 3, Prato
Transportation
BY CAR
Take the A11 Firenze - Pisa motorway, exit at Prato est. Follow the signs to the city centre.
BY BUS
The CAP and Lazzi bus lines provide a service between Florence and Prato with departures every 15 minutes from the Santa Maria Novella station.
BY TRAIN
The Museum is easily accessible from Prato Central Station (15 minutes walk or 5 minutes by LAM urban bus towards Nenni, get off at the bus stop 'Castello') and Prato Porta al Serraglio Station (5 minutes walk through the pedestrian zone).
Visiting Rules
- Face masks strongly reccommended. Find out more
- Admissions will be limited and organized on entry slots of 15 minutes each.
- Reservations recommended on weekdays, compulsory on Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
- Reservations always required for groups.
