Opening: Sunday, April 19, 4:30 pm – Palazzo Achilli, Gavinana
April 19, 2026 – January 10, 2027
In the mountains, ingenuity takes shape every day: in working hands, in ideas that become projects, in the eyes of those who know how to look ahead.
From April 19, 2026, to January 10, 2027, the exhibition halls of Palazzo Achilli in Gavinana will host The Ingenuity of the Mountains. Hands that invent, minds that transform, an exhibition dedicated to the productive activities of the Pistoia Mountains and to the people who, with passion and determination, have turned ideas and skills into resilient entrepreneurial realities.
The Pistoia Mountains are known for their forests, landscapes, and traditions. But they are also a place where people design, build, and invent. It's a territory where craftsmanship meets innovation, and where companies engage with national and international markets.
This is precisely what the exhibition tells: work, talent, know-how, and the ability to adapt in order to grow and remain competitive over time, bringing together memory and the present.
A journey through stories, objects, and ideas
The exhibition is structured into three sections, showcasing enterprises, workplaces, and skills.
An initial descriptive section reconstructs the historical context in which today’s productive fabric of the mountain area developed. Through testimonies and narratives, stories of work, creativity, and professional experience emerge, helping visitors understand how today’s businesses came to be.
The exhibition section takes visitors into the heart of production: artifacts, tools, drawings, and projects provided by the companies concretely illustrate what it means to produce, design, and innovate.
Finally, the multimedia narrative section gives voice to the protagonists. A series of video interviews offers an inside look at the stories of the participating businesses, revealing entrepreneurial paths that are often little known but rich in insight, challenges, and vision — and the people behind them.
An exhibition to explore with children as well
On every floor, there will be a small children’s area — a space to observe, build, and find solutions — where younger visitors can experiment and challenge themselves through games and hands-on activities designed for different age groups.
Featured participants
The exhibition is organized with the participation of several production realities from the Pistoia Mountains:
BG Legno
Consorzio Mo.To.R.E. – Montagna Toscana Ricerca Energie
Filoni S.r.l.
Fratelli Casipoli S.r.l.
Fratelli Martinelli S.p.A.
Stern Progetti S.r.l.
Valerio Pagliai – artisan woodturner
The video interviews are produced by Lorenzo Gori.
We look forward to seeing you at the opening on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 4:30 pm! Free admission
Exhibition poster
Opening hours
April, May, June | Thursday to Sunday, 10:00 am–1:00 pm and 3:00 pm–6:00 pm
July, August, September | Thursday to Sunday, 10:00 am–1:00 pm and 3:30 pm–6:30 pm
October, November, December, January | Thursday to Sunday, 10:00 am–1:00 pm and 3:00 pm–6:00 pm
Other days by appointment
Admission by voluntary donation
The exhibition is organized by the Associazione Ecomuseo della Montagna Pistoiese with the support of Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Pistoia e Pescia and the Italian Ministry of Culture.
With the patronage of: Regione Toscana; the Municipalities of Abetone Cutigliano, Marliana, Pistoia, Sambuca Pistoiese, and San Marcello Piteglio; the Province of Pistoia; the Union of Mountain Municipalities of the Pistoia Apennines; Confartigianato Imprese Pistoia; Confindustria Toscana Nord – Lucca Pistoia Prato; and CNA Toscana Centro – Pistoia.
For information:
Associazione Ecomuseo della Montagna Pistoiese
» +39 0573 638025
» ecomuseopt@gmail.com
» FB/IG @ecomuseopt