The experience
In the heart of Rolo, in the province of Reggio Emilia, there is the Museum of Inlay, a precious center dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the ancient art of wooden inlay that made this town famous throughout Europe between the eighteenth and twentieth centuries.
Set up on the second floor of the Town Hall, the museum offers a unique exhibition itinerary in Italy: a collection of inlaid furniture, the iconic “rolini”, original tools by master craftsmen, didactic models and a xylotheque with samples of wood essences. Visitors can follow all the phases of the creative process of the inlay, from the choice of wood to the final realization, appreciating the technical expertise and aesthetic taste of the Rolo cabinetmakers.
Inlay consists of precisely combining dowels of different materials — wood, semi-precious stones, metals, mother-of-pearl — to create decorative and figurative designs. This technique, very ancient, found new life in the Benedictine monasteries and experienced an extraordinary flowering in the Renaissance.
In Rolo, production reached its peak in the nineteenth century: up to 7000 tables were made per year, involving about 200 employees. Local artisans were able to innovate while maintaining a strong link with tradition, creating furniture decorated almost exclusively with inlaid wood, without the use of other materials.
Documentation and Research Centre
In addition to the museum exhibition, the museum houses a documentation center with a specialized library, an archive of magazines and historical texts, and material on the history of inlay in Rolo and the works of its famous craftsmen.
The Museum of Inlay is now a point of reference for scholars, enthusiasts and visitors curious to rediscover an excellence of Italian artistic craftsmanship.
The museum offers guided tours and educational activities for schools of all levels. Specialized guides accompany students to discover the world of inlay, including history, techniques and woodworking paths.
Visit lenght
Offer in
italiano
Information/To know
Suitable for Everybody
Wheelchair accessible
Location/The place
Address
Corso Repubblica, 39, Rolo, RE, Italia
How to get there
Distance from Reggio Emilia: Km. 28
Distance from the Reggiolo-Rolo motorway exit (A22 Brenner motorway): Km. 4
from Reggio Emilia: SP. 5 towards Novellara-Reggiolo, then continue towards Villanova-Rolo
Public transport services
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Information
Schedule and timetable
Saturday 15.00-18.00 Sunday 10.00-12.00 and 15.00-18.00 On all other days, the museum can only be visited by booking the visit at least two days in advance: – through the address info@museodellatarsia.it – by calling 0522.658028 or 0522.658011 during the opening hours of the Municipality of Rolo – through the form on the following page https://museodellatarsia.com/visita/#booking In the reservation it is necessary to indicate both the day and time in which you want to make the visit, and a telephone number. You will be contacted to confirm the requested day and time. For the closing days relating to the holiday period, please consult the News section of the website: http://museodellatarsia.com/news/ The entrance ticket is 3 euros, with reductions provided.