Here is the Italian Jewelry Museum

Preview of the Jewelry Museum. The inauguration is scheduled for December 24, but Gioiellis has visited the premises of the Basilica Palladiana, in the center of Vicenza, in advance. Present at the press preview was the president of Fiera Vicenza, Matteo Marzotto. He took advantage of the opportunity to take stock of VicenzaOro’s strategy. “The agreement with Panama (http://gioiellis.com/un-canale-panama-per-fiera-vicenza/) is the gateway to South America,” he explained, “while Dubai is the platform for the Far East and Africa. The Persian Gulf region is the most important customer for Italian jewelry exports.”

And VicenzaOro, which will change in January? “We have expanded the salons, the gold format has been completely changed, more innovative and based on six different communities, even in the graphic line. It will have six purchasing paths to simplify the visit for customers, for example international buyers who have little time available: we do not want to be the largest in terms of size, but the best at combining supply and demand”. According to the president of Fiera Vicenza, Italy is a large district, from Valenza to Arezzo, up to Torre del Greco: all territories with a great tradition and Vicenza has established itself as a platform for the internationalization of the entire Italian supply chain. The goal is, obviously, also to improve the turnover of the Fiera Vicenza entity, to 32 million, of which 21 come from VicenzaOro.

The museum. It is the first in Italy and one of the few in the world dedicated exclusively to jewelry, located in the 410 square meters inside the Basilica Palladiana. The director is Alba Cappellieri, professor of Jewelry Design at the Polytechnic University of Milan, while the designer is Patricia Urquiola. The permanent exhibition develops in a path divided into two levels: on the ground floor the entrance, with the bookshop with national and international texts on jewelry. Then, the temporary exhibition hall, where exhibitions dedicated to jewelry precious items are planned. The upper floor is the heart of the Museum, with nine exhibition rooms that house about 400 jewels and accompany visitors on an unprecedented path, in time and cultures, from prehistory to the future: Symbol, Magic, Function, Beauty, Art, Fashion, Design, Icons and Future. The focus is therefore on thematic and not chronological areas. An approach strongly desired by the director because the concept of jewelry changes with time and follows the transformations of society. And in fact, the works found in the rooms curated by international experts such as Aldo Bakker, Gijs Bakker, Bianca Cappello, Franco Cologni, Deanna Farneti Cera, Graziella Folchini Grassetto, Stefano Papi, Maura Picciau and Paolo Maria Guarrera, Alfonsina Russo and Ida Caruso, will change every two years. For example, in the Bellezza room, interpreted by an entrepreneur like Cologni, formerly at the helm of Cartier International and currently honorary president of the Richemont group, the objects on display represent the all-Italian ability to combine beauty with know-how. The next curator, perhaps a Frenchman at the head of a large fashion house like Van Cleef & Arpels, will select other works starting from a philosophy and a taste that is probably different. In short, the rotation will not only keep the place alive and dynamic, but will also offer citizens and hopefully also customers of the fair continuity. It is no coincidence that the selection includes ancient and modern jewels, up to the latest creations made with 3D printers. Monica Battistoni

Museo del Gioiello

Vicenza, Basilica Palladiana

Opening hours:
Monday to Friday from 10 am to 6 pm
Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 9 am to 7 pm
During the holidays: December 24th 4-7 pm, December 25th 3-8 pm, December 31st 9 am-1 am, January 1st 10 am-7 pm.

Ticket: full price 6 euros, reduced 4 euros