The Footwear Museum
 |
|
MUSEUM OF FOOTWEAR
The exhibition space has been designed to illustrate the transformations that footwear has undergone, from the first medieval approaches to the most recent productions which, in many cases, are real works of art, the fruit of the ability and skills of local craftsmen.
Thus from the faithful reproduction of a craft workshop we embark on the discovery of a world perhaps little known, but full of surprises, where the simplicity of the actions involved has always been accompanied by creativity and experiments, making a very incisive contribution to the evolution of the history of both costumes and customs.
The Museum conserves thousands of exhibits, including shoes, lasts, machines and tools for production, donated by companies or by individuals, exhibited in thematic areas and divided into three sections. The section “Footwear of every Time and Place” consists almost exclusively of the collection of Cav. Vincenzo Andolfi which comprises shoes, boots, sandals, clogs and slippers from China, India, Canada and Latin America, but also from many European and African countries. Completing he collection there are old prints and tools, unusual shoe-horns, and cloth, metal and ceramic bootees. The section “The Footwear Industry in the Marche”, besides original footwear made on the basis of exclusive designs developed by students at the Regional School for Footwear Operatives, features machinery and equipment used in times gone by, such as the precious cutting table from the 19th century, the rare sewing machines, the channelling machine and the flattering machine of more than 500 Kg dating from 1920. The section “Shoes of Famous People”, in continuous expansion, contains footwear belonging to important people in the religious world such as Pope John Paul II, Pope John XXIII, Pope Leo XIII and Cardinal Achille Ratti, the shoes of many sporting champions including Gino Bartali, Francesco Moser, Mario Cipollini, Yuri Chechi, Giovanni Trapattoni, Valentino Rossi, Marco Tardelli, Eddie Irvine, Simona Vesprini, Valentina Vezzali, Giovanna Trillini, Zidane and Stefano Cerioni; and also footwear donated by singers and show-business stars such as Milva, Angelo Branduardi, Bobby Solo, Maestro Detto Mariano and the celebrated tenor Beniamino Gigli.
Corso Baccio, 35 63019 E-mail: stefania@guideturistichemarche.it
Tourist Guides of the Marche: www.guideturistichemarche.it |
