In Umbria, culture can also be touched, created and experienced. Some museums not only showcase important centuries-old stories of knowledge, but also allow visitors to become artisans for a day. In dedicated workshops, those who want to get their hands dirty and discover the charm of manual creation can enjoy unique and unforgettable experiences.
Glass working
In Piegaro, glassmaking is an art with seven centuries of history. The Glass Museum, housed in the village’s ancient glassworks (operational until 1968), takes visitors on a journey through time among precious artefacts and historical tools that illustrate the evolution of this noble craft. The museum, with its workshops and educational programmes, is also a dynamic place where visitors can experiment with the glassmaking techniques, from fusion to the creation of unique objects.
Handcrafted printing
The Tipografia Grifani-Donati, opened in 1799 in Città di Castello, is a living museum dedicated the art of printing, where historical machinery is still in operation today. This historic Umbrian printing house is the only one in the world that manages to carry out typographic, intaglio and lithographic printing at the same time.
In 2005, the Museum of Graphic Arts was opened within its premises, offering workshops and hands-on experiences to introduce visitors to the world of printing.
Handcrafted ceramic decorations
The Regional Ceramics Museum in Deruta, housed in the former convent of San Francesco (11th century), is Italy’s oldest ceramics museum. Founded as the “Museo artistico pei lavoranti in maiolica” (Artistic Museum for Majolica Workers) in 1898, it not only preserves important ceramic artefacts belonging to Deruta’s production between the 15th and 16th centuries, but was originally intended as an exhibition space where artisans could draw inspiration from displayed models and decorations.
Today, everyone can become a ceramist: thanks to numerous workshops, visitors can discover the techniques for creating, shaping and decorating their own ceramic pieces.
Hand-weaving
In Sant’Anatolia di Narco, the Hemp Museum offers visitors the opportunity of discovering the art of weaving: an actual workshop with numerous handlooms has been set up inside the museum, allowing anyone to get involved and uncover their inner weaver!
Inside the museum, this ancient craft is kept alive, passed on to the new generations with a creative and contemporary approach: through weaving courses, school and family activities, as well as experimental projects and textile design.
