Paper Museum in Pescia

Museums

A journey to discover how paper is made from a heap of rags

The Paper Museum in Pescia is in Pietrabuona and aims to shed light on an ancient craft: making paper out of rags.
Through an interesting tour inside the 18th-century Le Carte Paper Mill, you are introduced to the secrets of this art and, thanks to the Master Papermakers of the Impresa Magnani, have the chance to make a handmade sheet of paper.

The production cycle of paper, tried for the first time in China, was picked up in Pescia in the 15th century. The first phase consisted of collecting scraps of cotton, wool, hemp and linen, which was selected and reduced to shreds to be put into a “rag pile” – tanks where large wooden hammers with bronze teeth reduced them to a thick mush, the “pesto,” with their rhythmic movement.

Paper Museum in Pescia - Credit: Museo della Carta

The paste obtained was then poured into a stone vat with the addition of pure water from the Pescia river. Using a “mould” in the shape of the sheet of paper that you wanted to make, the necessary amount of pesto was retained and the excess water was drained. The so-called posta made of sheets and felts was pressed and, separated the sheets from the felts, the paper was dried naturally.

The old Le Carte Paper Mill, home of the Museum, was built in 1710 and expanded in 1725. Inside the building are still preserved all the ancient machines for creating the fine handmade paper.

The Paper Museum in Pescia offers educational activities for schools, guided tours and workshops for adults and families.