In a town known for its hot springs, be pleasantly surprised by the fascinating Amleto and Donato Sartori International Mask Museum. This gallery in Abano Terme displays an eclectic array of masks that have long played a key role in Italy’s theatrical traditions. Enter the 18th-century Trevisan Savioli villa for an insight into the lives of this father and son duo.
Browse the collections of masks created by sculptor Amleto Sartori and his son Donato. Their masks have been worn in theatres across Europe, making the Sartori duo internationally famous. Ask for a guided tour for some context behind the masks and their sculptors.
Learn about the personal lives and careers of the pair. Amleto was a poet who created masks for such esteemed 20th-century actors as Marcello Moretti and Eduardo De Filippo.
Hear how Donato continued their projects after his father’s death in 1962, working closely with the Piccolo Teatro in Milan. He has also worked with important directors and actors internationally. The museum showcases masks made by the Sartori duo across an amazing eight decades. See photos and artistic representations of the masks in use on the stage.
Construction of the elegant setting of the Trevisan Savioli villa began in the early 1600s. Explore the majestic mansion for its Italian garden, courtyard and walled orchard.
Note that the museum opens on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from morning until late afternoon. It also opens on Sunday afternoons in winter and Sunday evenings in summer, but is closed during August. There is a fee for admission to the museum and a guided tour.
Walk east from the Piazza Mercato, which marks the centre of Abano Terme to reach the Amleto and Donato Sartori International Mask Museum. Other sights in close proximity are the San Lorenzo Cathedral and the Comune di Abano Terme town hall. Get around the town on foot or by bus.
