Fabriano is a town in the eastern Italian region of Le Marche. This small town is home to the Paper and Watermark museum which has been making and supplying paper worldwide since the 12th century! The paper industry in Fabriano has been inspiring companies and individuals since decades and I’m truly grateful to the ladies at DiscoverMarche for taking me here.
Fabriano Paper & Watermark Museum
The Fabriano Paper & Watermark Museum is located in the UNESCO creative city of Fabriano, yet another underrated city in Italy. The museum is well preserved and divided into several sections, still using old techniques to refine and process paper and imbibing modern methods. The Fabriano Paper museum is a great place to understand how paper and watermarks have changed over time. After all, the paper made in Fabriano travels the world! Even India gets paper for its currency from here.
Benvenuti! Welcome!
Since 1264 stayed with me
Have a seat!
Ancient and modern
Tour of the Museum
The museum in Fabriano offers guided tours in Italian and English. The tours offer a good demonstration of how watermarks are made and used.
I would have loved to take a tour in Italian but at that time my Italian was only A1 level. So I went with an English tour guide who showed a live demonstration of paper making. She shared history of her town and was extremely knowledgeable. With an interest in different cultures of the world, my tour guide was the reason I enjoyed this museum so much! The fact that she was working in the museum for over 2 decades made her passionate about her work.
I especially loved her attraction towards the Indian culture. Unfortunately I cannot remember her name but I hope she visits India someday.
First floor display
Does this mean a binder??
The second floor
A paper exhibit
Old equipment from the 18th century
The process of paper making
Paper left to dry
More equipment
Watermarks are fascinating!
During my visit, there was an International Festival of Watercolor Paintings happening in the city so a local school’s group was also there. Even though the museum was crowded, I found respite in the tiny souvenir shop selling inexpensive handmade paper and goodies.
Important Info:
Booking your tickets in advance is recommended when you visit the museum. English guides are not available every day.
How to Reach Fabriano:
If you are traveling from Rome, it takes about 3 hours to reach Fabriano. From Ancona, Fabriano is only an hour’s journey. The train station is only a short walk from the museum.
If given a chance, would you visit this hidden gem of a museum?? Drop a comment and let me know!
Further Reading:
- Amalfi Must Do: Pasticceria Sal De Riso
- How to visit the Amalfi Coast from Salerno
- Arrivederci Montalbano- thoughts on Riccardino
- Basilica di Superga with the moon- una meraviglia
- The view from Vomero Hill, Naples
35 Comments
10 Most Beautiful Places in Le Marche, Italy – Italophilia
June 1, 2021 at 10:29 am[…] Fabriano is a medieval UNESCO Creative City and yet again one of those underrated towns that no one talks about. Sometimes I wonder why the town isn’t promoted enough, seeing that it is home to the Paper and Watermarks Museum of Italy (Museo della Carta). The museum, which preserves more than 700 years of paper making tradition, sells high quality paper globally! If you want to know about it, I wrote more here. […]
ArT You Ready on Instagram – Italophilia
June 11, 2020 at 11:43 am[…] Museo della Carta in Fabriano […]
LEELA SARNA
April 30, 2019 at 3:12 pmHi Ishita,
Glad to have come across your blog. It is godsend for me. I am planning to visit Fabriano Acquerello next year. I do watercolors and recently discovered this amazing watercolor festival. Could you please let me know the stay options, budget or mid budget in Fabriano.
Italophilia
May 1, 2019 at 10:07 amThanks Leela 🙂 I am happy to help you. Here are some that I think will be perfect. 1. https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/b-amp-b-la-dimora-del-capitano.en-us.html?aid=1761895;sid=a94e35f15d2054f1b1f635e1bfc16b30;all_sr_blocks=155118201_123141812_2_1_0;checkin=2019-05-05;checkout=2019-05-10;dest_id=-117127;dest_type=city;dist=0;hapos=1;highlighted_blocks=155118201_123141812_2_1_0;hpos=1;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;sr_order=popularity;srepoch=1556685335;srpvid=398a204be1a20140;type=total;ucfs=1&#hotelTmpl
2. https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/residenza-la-ceramica-fabriano.en-us.html?aid=1761895;sid=a94e35f15d2054f1b1f635e1bfc16b30;checkin=2019-05-05;checkout=2019-05-10;dest_id=-117127;dest_type=city;dist=0;hapos=3;hpos=3;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;soh=1;sr_order=popularity;srepoch=1556685335;srpvid=398a204be1a20140;type=total;ucfs=1&#no_availability_msg
3. https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/b-amp-b-da-bibi.en-us.html?aid=1761895;sid=a94e35f15d2054f1b1f635e1bfc16b30;bhgwe_bhr=0;checkin=2019-05-05;checkout=2019-05-10;dest_id=-117127;dest_type=city;dist=0;hapos=24;hpos=24;nflt=rshl%3D9%3B;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;soh=1;sr_order=popularity;srepoch=1556685365;srpvid=542d205a43b8009f;type=total;ucfs=1&#no_availability_msg
there’s a lot on Le Marche on my blog. Do give it a read 🙂
restlessjo
December 4, 2017 at 11:30 pmIt does sound fascinating. After all these years… 🙂 🙂
Ishita
December 5, 2017 at 3:16 pmI know and well worth a visit because it is maintained so well. x
Fabriano’s Paper and Watermark Museum – Discovermarche
November 29, 2017 at 10:24 am[…] via Fabriano’s Paper and Watermark Museum […]
Justine Bothwick
November 20, 2017 at 11:02 pmThis sounds a good museum. I’ll have to visit one day.
Ishita
November 20, 2017 at 11:06 pmI hope you can 🙂 It was such an enriching experience
Justine Bothwick
November 20, 2017 at 11:08 pmI love stationery anyway, and especially lovely paper to write on 🙂
Fabriano’s Paper and Watermark Museum — Italophilia – Naked Cities Journal
November 18, 2017 at 4:07 am[…] via Fabriano’s Paper and Watermark Museum — Italophilia […]
Meenakshi
November 8, 2017 at 10:41 amCo-incidentally, I am reading this on one – year completion of Demonetization!
Thanks for the virtual tour of Fabrino’s Paper museum 🙂
Ishita
November 10, 2017 at 1:42 pmHaha Meenakshi 😉 Yes what a coincidence
pamelaallegretto
November 7, 2017 at 10:38 pmSuch an enlightening post. I’m an artist, and when I paint in watercolors I always use Fabriano paper. Now it will be even more special after learning the history of the company. Grazie mille!
Ishita
November 10, 2017 at 1:44 pmThanks Pamela 🙂 It must be so cool to use that paper on a daily basis.
Anuradha Goyal
November 7, 2017 at 3:23 pmI did not know that the paper for our currency comes from Italy. That is some news. What makes this paper special to be used for currencies?
Such niche museums are always hidden gems and they carry the unique history of the place in their folds.
Ishita
November 7, 2017 at 4:09 pmImagine! But not all. She didn’t mention which currency but it’s secret and very quietly done. The papers method of production and quality is such
Clanmother
November 7, 2017 at 1:56 amI visited Fabriano many years ago and walked those same streets in the photo. How wonderful to join you and visit this amazing place once again.
Ishita
November 7, 2017 at 4:06 pmMust have been nice. I saw the old town too but only fleetingly
Clanmother
November 9, 2017 at 1:21 amWe came in from Castelraimondo by train which took us to the heart of the city. I loved taking the train from one town to another. Ci Vidiamo.
Ishita
November 10, 2017 at 1:42 pmChe bello!! Ci vediamo 🙂
Darlene
November 7, 2017 at 1:38 amI love museums like this. A great article and fabulous pictures. Thanks!
Ishita
November 7, 2017 at 4:06 pmThank you! Hope you are well
Janet Simmonds
November 6, 2017 at 11:01 pmI LOVE Fabriano and the wonderful Museo della Carta – great article. I recently wrote about Fabriano paper on my blog too! Like you I adore Le Marche one of the less well known regions of Italy and yet so rich in history and culture. My Fabriano article: https://wp.me/p5eFNn-342
Ishita
November 7, 2017 at 4:07 pmWow Janet I know very few people who have seen Le Marche. it’s so cool that you do I’ll check your post x
Calysta Hannah
November 6, 2017 at 6:39 pmGreat blog. Love visiting such an interesting museum.
Ishita
November 7, 2017 at 4:08 pmIt was one of the highlights of the trip. 🙂
liveurdream
November 6, 2017 at 5:04 pmwow! Thanks! Very interesting! I love paper so I would really like to visit the museum if I am there and watch the preparation of it! 😀
Ishita
November 7, 2017 at 4:08 pmTotally you should! I can’t imagine someone visiting Fabriano and not going x
amindfultravellerblog
November 6, 2017 at 4:40 pmHow wonderful. I would love to visit a museum such as this. So interesting. Xx
Ishita
November 6, 2017 at 4:59 pmLorelle, it is a place that anyone will love. Not boring at all
karenincalabria
November 6, 2017 at 3:09 pmAbsolutely, I’d love to visit – sounds like a very interesting museum. There’s a Fabriano Paper company with a store in Fiumicino airport that I always stop in. Nice gifts.
Ishita
November 6, 2017 at 3:19 pmI never knew! Maybe I missed. thanks for sharing. Le Marche is such a unique region. Actually they all are 😉
David Lester
November 6, 2017 at 1:39 pmHello,This was a really good posting. I am a watercolorist and I want to see this museum. thank you…this kind of thing makes living in Italy more interesting.Raymond Lester
From: Italophilia To: rdlester65@yahoo.com Sent: Monday, November 6, 2017 8:36 AM Subject: [New post] Fabriano Paper and Watermark Museum #yiv4035281029 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv4035281029 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv4035281029 a.yiv4035281029primaryactionlink:link, #yiv4035281029 a.yiv4035281029primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv4035281029 a.yiv4035281029primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv4035281029 a.yiv4035281029primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv4035281029 WordPress.com | Ishita posted: “A windy morning in Fabriano’s Paper and Watermark museum with DiscoverMarche had me smitten. Not many know that the town of Fabriano in the region of Le Marche, Italy has been making paper since the 12th century.Can you imagine how it felt to walk throu” | |
Ishita
November 6, 2017 at 1:44 pmHappy you liked it 🙂 Let me know if you make it there x