Visita

The Museum itinerary commences in the old boiler room, which is almost entirely occupied by the steam generator responsible for powering the machinery in the Campolmi textile mill before the introduction of electricity.

The first steam plant within the factory dates back to 1892, but the room took on its current appearance in 1925, with the most recent adjustment made during the 1950s for the conversion to diesel fuel instead of coal. The boiler demonstrates just how complex power distribution systems were in factories in the late nineteenth century.

The oldest space within the entire architectural complex, this is a charming environment that lends itself well to enhancing the Museum’s historical textile collections.

These are displayed on rotation, presenting new content from time to time. Therefore, presenting the public with many opportunities in which to deepen their understanding of the Museum’s various central collections. The room’s appeal is enhanced by the presence of macro video projections that create continuity between the exhibits and their historical and cultural context.

Textiles, the result of traditional craftsmanship and the most advanced technology, are highly complex products for anyone who is not a specialist in the field.

This is an interactive and fun area which allows visitors to become familiar with the materials and textile processes, from spinning to finishing, by means of panels which include images, objects, fibres and materials to touch and video touch screens. Before continuing upstairs, the last room on the ground floor features an interactive relaxation area where visitors can play with garments and fashion plates.

The room retraces the most significant moments in Prato’s textile history, from the Middle Ages until the first half of the twentieth century by means of historical records, textiles, tools, machinery, scale models and samples, as well as multimedia equipment.

Part of the itinerary in this room is devoted to pre-industrial wool production, the other deals with the district’s most traditional product; regenerated wool garnered from rags and manufacturing scraps.

The room is dedicated to the development and transformation of the textile district and the city after the Second World War to present-day. With the birth of Italian haute couture and prêt a porter, Prato moved further and further away from the tradition of regenerated wool to embrace new products and become an integral part of the international fashion system.

Prato’s image changed from the city of rags to the city of fashion.

The Museum stands out for the comprehensive documentation of the technological and stylistic innovations in contemporary textile production.

New fibres and materials, technology transfers, renewals in chemistry and mechanics make the textile industry an ever-changing world. The room (450 square metres) is used for temporary installations related to this theme, as well as housing events and cultural initiatives.

The Museum organises temporary exhibitions and installations which explore textiles, fashion and historic and contemporary design, as well as exhibitions that enhance the cultural and textile heritage of the city of Prato. The final room which concludes the itinerary, a 450 square metre open space, offers an ideal setting for visually stunning displays.