Museum of Italian Emigration in Lucca

The Museum of Italian Emigration is located in Lucca in the Church of Santa Maria della Rotonda. It tells the story of the phenomenon of Italian emigration between the mid-19th century and the 1960s based on material collected by the Paolo Cresci Foundation.

The visitor’s journey through the museum follows the key milestones in the migrant experience of relocating, from departure to arrival, to finding new work and the establishment of a community. This storytelling is made possible by documents, photographs, letters and diaries from across the time period. Alongside these you can also enjoy interactive storytelling, such as documentaries, films and video interviews.

As well as emphasising the historical aspect, a great deal of time and effort has gone into highlighting social and psychological themes, prompting the visitor to reflect upon the situation facing us today.