Museo della Tarsia - Rolo

The Museum, housed in several rooms of the town hall, was established in 1994 with the intention of documenting the artistic technique of marquetery (locally known as tarsia) in the Rolo area. This technique first emerged in the second half of the 18th century, although its roots date back to earlier times. The first documented example of it is the pulpit of Rolo’s main church, built in 1752 by Giuseppe Preti. The tarsia technique is characterized by decorations featuring thin, blonde wood racenes – sometimes embellished with berries or small flowers – and Renaissance cityscapes. The Museum describes the hisory and fortunes of tarsia in Rollo thanks to a series of explanatory panels and the over 30 objects on display, including tables, chests, closets and other furniture. The tools used by local artisans are displayed and described, in order to shed light on the various techniques used. The collection also includes a small section featuring drawings and engravings. The Museum also serves as a documentation centre for marquetery, and organizes training and restoration courses that aim to keep this technique alive.