Museum of Scales
One of the most important museums of its kind in the world
The Museum of Scales in Monterchi was born thanks to the passion and willingness of Velio Ortolani, extraordinary collector who made available part of his collection of scales and weights, one of the most important of its kind in the world. Ortolani started collecting scales in the early 1960s, acquiring them from antique stores and secondhand dealer shops. The collection, consisting of hundreds of specimens, can be considered one of the most important of its kind in Europe. The oldest piece in the collection is a weight from the 15th century.
The Museum also offers a detailed, interactive educational tour, consisting of panels and tools that lead visitors to discover ancient trades, such as the tax and duty collector and the money changer, or places that have now disappeared, such as silkworm breeding.
The Museum is open only by reservation for groups (15 people and over) who make a request by email at least one week in advance.
