Musei della Cartiera Papale, Technology museum and natural history collection in Ascoli Piceno, Italy.
The Musei della Cartiera Papale combines a paper mill museum with a natural history collection displayed in a Renaissance building next to the Castellano river. The structure showcases machinery from paper production alongside botanical specimens in its interconnected rooms.
The paper mill was built in 1512 under Pope Julius II with architectural input from Alberto da Piacenza and Cola dell'Amatrice. The facility became an important center for paper production in the region and reflected Renaissance building techniques.
The museum displays plants from the Apennine region that Antonio Orsini collected during the 1800s, and many species still bear his name today. These botanical specimens reflect how knowledge of local nature was organized in that era.
The museum is located at Via della Cartiera 1 and offers guided tours, paper-making workshops, and exhibitions on science and technology throughout the year. Plan time to explore both collections and to participate in hands-on activities if desired.
Visitors can create bambagina paper sheets by hand using Renaissance techniques in the original mill building. This hands-on experience reveals how papermakers worked centuries ago in the exact same space.
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