Dedicated to the ancient art of paper making, Pescia Paper Museum was established in 2004 in the 18th-century paper mill Le Carte, where the Magnani family – famous for handmade paper since 1481– used to manufacture their precious, elegant products, then popular among nobles, poets, international companies and national mints. When the production slowed down and finally came to a halt at the end of the 20th century, the family’s legacy was saved by a newly-born local association, that bought the mill and converted it into a museum.

The museum houses a vast archive of documents and a collection of ancient machinery and equipment, including moulds, filigree waxes, punches, metal sheets and stamps for a total of 7,000 pieces. The building itself, where artisans of old not only worked but also lived with their families, is beautifully preserved and is one of the most important landmarks of industrial archaeology in Italy.