Chieri: Textile History, Museums and City Walls

If you are considering a stay in Chieri, the city offers a range of points of interest for culture and history enthusiasts. Its museums each have their own focus, from textile crafts and archaeology to the history of wine. There are also traces of the city’s former fortifications and a historical connection to Don Bosco. You can plan your visits around the topics that interest you most.

Museums: Archaeology, Textiles and Local History

The Mostra Archeologica Chieri (MAC) was established in 2009 in the restored basement of the town hall. Its exhibition route leads through three rooms dedicated to trade, burial rituals and crafts. The topics give the exhibition a clear structure: you can focus on each aspect in turn rather than following a single, continuous collection.

The Museo del Tessile documents textile production in Chieri from the Middle Ages to the end of the 19th century. Its collection comprises more than 3,000 objects. Working looms and machines illustrate the culture and technology of weaving; the museum is described as a “living museum.” Historical objects and practical textile techniques thus offer different ways to explore the subject.

The StArt Gallery offers another perspective on Chieri’s history and art. Its permanent exhibition uses panels, wooden structures and display cases. Two touchscreens complement the display, allowing you to explore monuments, events and notable figures in greater depth. The Museo Martini focuses on a different period. Its 15 rooms display more than 600 objects illustrating the history of oenology, from the 7th century BC to the present day.

The Imbiancheria del Vajro is now used for workshops, laboratory events and temporary exhibitions. If you are more interested in educational and event-based activities than in a collection covering a set historical period, this venue offers a distinct thematic focus. The Museo Don Bosco, in turn, is connected to the history of a former seminary building: it is housed in the building where Don Bosco was a seminarian in the 19th century. In his youth, he lived for several years in the seminary’s former dormitory.

City Walls and Historic Centre

Medieval and Baroque influences blend harmoniously in Chieri’s historic centre. A tangible reminder of the city’s fortifications is the Bastione della Mina, built around 1551 as part of the city walls. A signposted walking path along the outer defensive ditch of the Rio Tepice allows you to see further surviving sections of the city walls. Here, the focus is not on an indoor collection but on the surviving fortifications and their course along the ditch.

The Complesso San Filippo is also a key place to visit if you are interested in the city’s religious and historical heritage: it is an important stop on the Cammino Don Bosco. The Cammino di Don Bosco comprises three routes between the hills of Turin, Lake Arignano and the countryside around Chieri. If you would like to include a route in your plans, check the current information on the trail’s official website.

Getting to the MAC and Choosing a Theme

From Turin, GTT line 30 runs to the Cavour stop. From there, the MAC is 140 metres away on foot, a walk of around two minutes. Travel information may change, so it is advisable to check the timetable before setting off.

The different collections are easy to distinguish by how they present their subject matter: the MAC divides its themes across three rooms, the Museo del Tessile combines an extensive collection with working looms and machines, and the StArt Gallery complements its permanent exhibition with digital tools. The Museo Martini, by contrast, focuses on a long span of oenological history. These differences can help you choose what to focus on during your stay in Chieri, whether your particular interests are crafts, local history, art, archaeology or wine culture.

Discover more destinations: Loranzè, Stazione, Prali, Banchette, Roletto, Campiglia Soana, Orbassano and Beaulard.

For the regional travel overview: Turin.