Museo Smaltoteca

The one-of-a-kind Smaltoteca Museum in Ponte San Pietro houses over 1,500 works of art and numerous design objects created using the ancient yet little-known art of enameling. Fire enamel is a crystal that, due to its inimitable properties, permanently bonds with the metal it is melted into at approximately 800 degrees Celsius. Enamel originated approximately 3,500 years ago on the island of Cyprus and from there spread throughout the world, prized for its brilliance and durability, making it similar to precious stones. In these rooms, you can admire this millennia-old history: from the bronze brooches of Roman soldiers to the reliquaries of the French Limoges school, from 16th-century paintings and portraits to 20th-century Italian works, from Orthodox icons to ancient and contemporary Asian enamels. The museum features a specialized library, a conference room, and an educational laboratory.