Museo internazionale della calzatura, Footwear museum in Castello Sforzesco, Vigevano, Italy
The Museo Internazionale della Calzatura Pietro Bertolini occupies four rooms and a gallery inside the Castello Sforzesco of Vigevano. Its display cases hold footwear from around the world, arranged to show how shoes changed across historical periods, alongside pieces lent or donated by shoe companies and fashion designers.
The museum was founded in the 1950s on the initiative of the Vigevano historian Luigi Barni and named after Pietro Bertolini, the first donor of a large collection of footwear from around the world. It is housed in the Castello Sforzesco of Vigevano. In 2005 it presented an exhibition on Italian footwear from the second half of the 1930s to the Second World War.
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.
The collection includes a one-centimetre silver shoe and a futuristic sandal with wooden spool soles. A pianella from the late 15th century is attributed to Duchess Beatrice d'Este. The museum is named after Pietro Bertolini, its first donor.
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