Wood Shavings Museum

Museo del Truciolo

In Villarotta, along the picturesque Cavo Tagliata, lies a hidden gem of Italian artisan tradition: the Truciolo Museum.
Housed in a 15th-century sewer, the museum showcases the ancient art of woodworking to obtain shavings and braids, the essential material for making the famous straw hats that have made the village famous since the 17th century.
Here, visitors can admire a unique exhibition in Northern Italy: historic equipment such as an 18th-century wooden trimmer, machines for trimming poplar logs, and machinery donated by the Fratelli Ruina factory, which continued the tradition until 2004.
Walking among the original machinery and the 15th-century fireplace, visitors can relive the artisanal process: from poplar logs, shavings are created, and from these, braids are woven by the expert hands of women, finally giving shape to straw hats, a symbol of a craft and an entire community.
The museum also celebrates the memory of its inventor, Nicolò Biondo, who in the 15th century discovered how to transform simple willow branches into braidable shavings, paving the way for a centuries-old tradition.
Along the road to the museum, a mural by artist Davide Ghiacci, titled "La Villa dei Cappelli," pays homage to the history and culture of the hamlet, capturing the artisan spirit and identity of Villarotta.
The Truciolo Museum is more than just an exhibition space, but a journey through memory lane, exploring manual skill, local history, and the charm of ancient Italian workshops.