Museo-Laboratorio di tessitura a mano Giuditta Brozzetti

The Museo-Laboratorio di Tessitura a Mano Giuditta Brozzetti in Perugia is a living workshop and museum dedicated to the art of traditional Umbrian handweaving. Founded in 1921 by Giuditta Brozzetti, it preserves centuries-old textile techniques once used in convents and rural households. Housed in the former Church of San Francesco delle Donne, the museum features original wooden looms from the 18th and 19th centuries still in use today. Visitors can watch artisans recreate intricate jacquard, damask, and Perugian tablecloth patterns inspired by medieval designs. The space beautifully combines history, craftsmanship, and female enterprise, keeping Umbria’s textile heritage vibrantly alive. Highly recommended for those interested in heritage crafts.

A truly meaningful place to visit. Marta, the fourth-generation descendant of the founder, is incredibly kind and deeply passionate about her work. This is likely one of the last remaining places where Perugia’s medieval textile traditions are still preserved. They even produce tablecloths used in da Vinci’s Last Supper—an astonishing blend of history and craftsmanship. The workshop is located in a former church once used by San Francesco, a setting that remains marvellous and full of character. A visit here feels like stepping into a living museum where tradition and artistry continue to thrive.

This artisan place is a very slightly out of the way absolute treasure. Our guide Aurelia was wonderful and it was a pleasant honor to meet the owner Marta. Her story and that of her great grandmother is inspiring. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary please visit. You will not regret it.

As a fan of textiles and handicraft, I’ve been to a lot of museums and laboratories, but this one, though small and specific, was particularly evocative and informative. I’ve seen countless handlooms and jacquard looms, but never in action or explained in such loving detail. Our guide took us through the history of her craft in the Perugia area and the story of founder of the museum, her mission, and how her family has carried on and expanded this work and research. The evocative deconsecrated church itself was resplendent today in the Umbrian late summer sun. One handloom in particular still runs on its original family’s encoded designs. Every warp thread that passes through it has been knotted to the one that came before it (far more efficient and less vulnerable to error than re-threading the loom). That’s impressive enough when considered literally, the working history of every warp thread connecting back to another textile through time. But it’s all the more touching when taken as a metaphor for the umbilical connection of daughter to mother to grandmother and beyond. Overall, I was in awe of this monument to women and their work. (PS I cannot wait to see the documentary on the recreation of the Perugino tablecloth immortalized in Da Vinci’s Last Supper.)

If I could give this weaving company and the tour we had 10 stars I would. I was SO IMPRESSED with what this family has done to keep this very important and critical heritage business going. I was enthralled during my whole visit during our Trafalgar tour and VERY happy to hear that the Trafalgar tour company supports this endeavor. The weaving looms are magnificent and the fabric they produce was unbelievable! I just wish I had more money so I could have purchased something bigger than the little squares that I got. La dame française qui a expliqué l'histoire de l'entreprise a fait un travail fantastique ! Merci! The owner of the company along with her cute dog, showing off the looms at work and the blueprints for jacquard weaving really impressed me and you have inspired me now to get back to weaving now on my own little loom!

Great place staffed with really nice people. Visiting is free and you can you look around and take amazing pictures. They produce woven products in a manner they did in the middle ages. You can buy their products and they display and sell beautiful products from local artists. It's really a great place to visit when you are in Perugia. And it's the perfect place to buy an authentic souvenir or present for the people at home. Highly recommended.

Fantastic place that we discovered today on our outing. Amazing weaving industry business there that has been operating for a century. Marta, the owner was a great host. The machinery is fantastic, the products amazing and the lemon trees brilliant. Full of history. Bravo As of today I have one year old Lemon saplings from your two trees. Pictures added

When the NY Times did its travel piece on Perugia this was the first place it mentioned. And this place should not be missed. A full hands education in weaving in the Middle Ages. Ancient looms still being used to produce ancient tapestries. It a long lost art struggling to stay alive. Some bus tours have discovered it but don’t let that put off. It housed in a 13th century church with a spot where St Francis actually prayed. Even if you are numb to weaving the setting will awe and inspire you. There is no hard sell. You inspect and order what you want with a small deposit.