Housed in the elegant Villa Rosa in Altare, the Altarese Glass Art Museum traces the long tradition of the valley’s master glassmakers through works of art, historical tools, and multimedia installations.
In Altare, a small village in the Bormida Valley with a history deeply rooted in the art of glassmaking, the Altarese Glass Art Museum preserves centuries of artisanal tradition. The visit begins with the building that houses it: Villa Rosa, an elegant early 20th-century Art Nouveau residence designed by Nicolò Campora, an engineer from Savona.
Built as a private residence and inhabited since 1906, the villa is today one of the most elegant examples of Ligurian Art Nouveau in the Savona hinterland. Restored and opened to the public in 2004, it has become the museum’s home and a place dedicated to preserving and promoting the glassmaking tradition of Altara.
At the heart of the collection lies the story of the Società Artistico Vetraria, founded in 1856 by the town’s leading glassmaking families. For over a century, this cooperative was one of the region’s most important manufacturing centers, producing everyday glassware, technical glass for the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and exquisite artistic creations crafted by master glassmakers.
As you stroll through the museum’s galleries, you’ll encounter glass objects spanning various eras, from the 18th century to the present day. Alongside the works are original tools used in the furnaces, which help visitors better understand the work and techniques of glassmakers.
The exhibition is enhanced by multimedia displays that guide visitors on a journey of discovery through an ancient artisanal tradition that has shaped the history and identity of Altare for centuries.
