In Abbadia Lariana, in a former mill on the Via Nazionale, the Civico Museo Setificio Monti documents silk production through restored historic machinery, including a large circular silk twister from 1818.
History
In 1818 Pietro Monti converted an older building into a silk-throwing mill, using the energy of the water running beside the site. The main production activity ended in 1934, and over time the premises were reused by other industrial businesses. In 1978 the Comune of Abbadia Lariana bought the buildings; restoration began in 1981 and the museum opened in 1998.
What to see
The museum preserves the evidence of early silk-processing technology. Its centrepiece is the large circular silk twister of 1818, restored and put back into working order, and presented as one of the largest working silk twisters in Europe. The route is completed by the iron and cast-iron water wheels, which replaced the original wooden ones, and by three rectangular twisters installed in the nineteenth century. Since 2021 an embroidered tapestry illustrating the “Legend of the Grigna” has also been on display.
For a comparison with Como’s silk history, see also the Museo Didattico della Seta in Como.
Practical information
- Address: Via Nazionale, Abbadia Lariana.
- Open Wednesday to Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday. Detailed hours vary by day and by season (the afternoon is the most consistent opening period), and the official sources we consulted do not agree on every detail: before your visit, check the museum’s official website (museoabbadia.it).
- Full ticket €5, reduced €3 (children up to 14, over-65s, Abbadia Lariana residents, FAI members); free entry for some categories, including visitors with disabilities and their companion.
- Booking is required for groups of 15 or more and for school classes.