What You Need to Know: Useful Information
Fabriano is famous worldwide for its high-quality paper production. This small town, set in hilly terrain, symbolizes paper craftsmanship with a tradition that began in the 13th century. Fabriano paper is renowned for its excellence and for some fundamental technical innovations that revolutionized paper production in Europe, including watermarks for authenticity and the multiple hammer mill for fiber processing. These developments allowed Fabriano paper to be considered among the best in Europe and to be chosen for important documents. Today, Fabriano offers visitors the chance to discover how this special paper is made. In the Paper and Watermark Museum, housed in the former Dominican convent, visitors can take guided tours that explain the artisanal production process, showcasing traditional tools and modern processing techniques. In addition, the museum organizes educational workshops where anyone can try their hand at making a sheet of paper by hand, following the ancient technique of the master papermakers, allowing you to take home a unique souvenir.
Getting There
By train
The town is very well connected by rail; you can take a regional Trenitalia train directly to Fabriano railway station, which sits conveniently on the main Ancona-Rome line. The station is located just a short, pleasant walk from the historic center and the museum.
By car
Driving allows you to explore the rolling hills at your own pace. Take the SS76 highway (Ancona-Perugia) and take the exit for Fabriano Ovest or Fabriano Est, then follow the signs leading toward the historic center parking lots.
By bus
For regional transit travelers, Contram and ATMA regional buses operate frequent daily routes connecting nearby towns like Jesi, Macerata, and Ancona directly to the central transit terminals of Fabriano.
Below you'll find the location marked on Google Maps. Click on it to open the location directly on your device's maps.
Useful contacts
- Museo della Carta e della Filigrana (Paper and Watermark Museum Desk): +39 0732 22334 | [email protected] | museodellacarta.it
- Ufficio Informazioni Turistiche IAT Fabriano (Tourist Information Center): +39 0732 709424 | [email protected]
What to Bring & Pro Tips
Because the guided tours and educational workshops at the Paper and Watermark Museum are incredibly popular for travelers worldwide, it is highly recommended to book your time slot in advance. During the hands-on activities where you try making a sheet of paper by hand, you will be working directly with water and natural plant fibers, so make sure to wear casual clothing with sleeves that can easily be rolled up. Since the museum is beautifully housed in a sprawling former Dominican convent, wear comfortable flat walking shoes to navigate the historic stone corridors easily. Lastly, make sure you leave a flat, secure space in your travel bag or bring a rigid folder so you can safely transport your delicate, wet handmade sheet of paper back home without wrinkling your unique souvenir.
The “Hidden Gem”
Once you have finished filtering fibers through the historic screens of the museum, leave the papermaking vats behind and take a spectacular short drive into the mountains to explore the breathtaking Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi Natural Regional Park.
Instead of looking at standard town structures, head deep underground into the mind-blowing Frasassi Caves (Grotte di Frasassi). Discovered in 1971, this immense subterranean karst cave system is an absolute masterpiece of nature, featuring towering stalactites and stalagmites illuminated in a surreal display of shadows and stone. Walking through the monumental “Ancona Abyss”—a chamber so massive that the entire Milan Cathedral could comfortably fit inside it—offers a wonderfully awe-inspiring, subterranean break from the town's industrial history, rewarding adventurous travelers with one of the grandest geological wonders hidden anywhere in Europe.
