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THE
TUSCANY ROUTE (Start
page)
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Leading project partner: Textile Museum,
Prato; Mr Emanuele Lepri, Director Tuscany has been - and in many ways still is - a very fertile terrain for the flowering of a textile culture. Since the early middle ages communities and cities in the region have devoted their creative talents to the design of refined and innovative fabrics. Public and private institutions in the ten different provinces of Tuscany offer visitors both the charm of the pre-industrial past as well as the imposing beauty of industrial cultural heritage. The Tuscany Textile Route can be used as a tool to appreciate a different aspect of an area that is admired throughout the world and as an opportunity for experts and amateurs to dive into the wealth of textile heritage preserved through the centuries. The route includes collections of antique textiles, workshops and small manufacturers, as well as monuments of pre-industrial and industrial textile production. Events take place recurrently in Tuscany that combine tradition and marketing aims and are spread throughout the year, from the summer events of the two Siena Palios to the Florence fashion and textile fairs in the autumn and spring. Research and education are also taken into consideration, as an opportunity for both younger and older students to learn and update their knowledge on techniques and design with regard to textile production, fashion, and textile conservation. There are special references to the extraordinary wealth of the textile collections kept by the Church in numerous locations, which can act as a guide to textile tours off the beaten track in the Tuscan countryside. The textile route for Tuscany is co-ordinated by the Textile Museum of Prato, which was opened in a new location in May 2003 and became the largest institution entirely devoted to the enhancement of textile culture in Italy. Structured around different sections, the Textile Museum of Prato is hosting historical collections (from the Coptic period to the 19th century), the past and present textile production of Prato and contemporary initiatives in textile art and fashion. Textile Contact Point (TCP) Museo del Tessuto Piazza del Comune 9 I-59100 Prato http://www.po-net.prato.it/tessuto |
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 The new Textile Museum of Prato, the former Campolmi factory room for textile collections  Textile Factory "Ex Lanificio Val Bisenzio", late part of the 19th century, Mercatale di Vernio Prato  View of the fortified Wool Mill along the Arno River |
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