Museo internazionale della calzatura, Footwear museum in Castello Sforzesco, Vigevano, Italy
The International Shoe Museum sits within eleven exhibition rooms of the medieval Castello Sforzesco and displays over 4,500 pairs of shoes spanning different eras and cultures. The collection ranges from ancient examples to contemporary works, documenting footwear craftsmanship across history.
The museum traces back to a collection Pietro Bertolini started in the 1930s and donated to Vigevano in 1948 to preserve shoe history. The museum's founding in 2003 made this important collection accessible to the public.
The collection shows shoes from designers like Ferragamo and Armani, documenting how footwear fashion changed across centuries. Visitors can see how designs and craftsmanship evolved and which styles defined different periods.
The museum is housed in the Castello Sforzesco and is fairly easy to reach, though it requires visiting during scheduled hours. Plan enough time to explore the various exhibition rooms comfortably, especially if you are interested in shoe design details.
Among the exhibits are a 15th-century slipper belonging to Duchess Beatrice d'Este and original shoes worn by Marilyn Monroe. These historically significant objects offer insight into the personal tastes of famous historical and contemporary figures.
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