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The “Museo arti e mestieri di un tempo” (“Museum of Arts and Crafts of the past”) is in the Municipality of Cisterna d’Asti, in the Province of Asti. The headquarters is located inside the castle of the village and houses more than 3.000 objects related to the activities of the past.
This medieval building sits on the highest hill in the area and it overlooks the town with its imposing square structure. The internal water tank (“cistern” as in “Cisterna d’Asti”) is one of the most interesting features of this medieval fortress, along with the twenty themed rooms of the museum. Visitors can almost travel back in time, virtually visiting visit the workshops of cobblers, saddle makers, carpenters, knitters, weavers, organ builders, carters, coopers, tailors, mattress makers and knife grinders, discovering many interesting and well-preserved objects and tools.

Since the inauguration, which took place in 1980, several regional funds have been spent to preserve the structure, improve the museum and allow it to be used also for educational purposes. Guided tours and didactical workshops are also offered to very young students, as well as to primary and secondary schools.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)