Discover the unique museums of Parcines and surroundings
The Peter Mitterhofer Typewriter Museum
In 1993, on the centenary of Peter Mitterhofer’s death, the municipality of Parcines inaugurated a museum dedicated to typewriters. Initially located in the elementary school of Tel, it was later moved in August 1997 to the new Teisenhaus building in the town center. The museum was officially opened on May 31, 1998.
Peter Mitterhofer, born in Tel in 1822, learned the trades of carpenter and joiner from his father but also devoted himself to music and ventriloquism. Between 1864 and 1869, in the latter part of his life, he built five typewriter prototypes using simple tools. With two of them, he set off on foot to Vienna to present his invention to Emperor Franz Joseph I. Unfortunately, his invention was not recognized, and years later, Mitterhofer witnessed the typewriter’s success in the United States.
Today, the museum houses over 2,000 exhibits, ranging from Mitterhofer’s wooden prototypes to more modern machines, illustrating the fascinating evolution of this groundbreaking invention.
The Bagni Egart Collection
The Bagni Egart, known as the oldest spa center in South Tyrol, has hosted a unique historical collection since 2007. The hotel’s owner, Karl Platino, created an exhibition that includes:
- Ancient spa artifacts.
- A traditional Stube with elements of folk culture.
- A recreation of a small shop from Santa Caterina in Val Senales.
- A Biedermeier-style kitchen.
- Furnishings from the Austro-Hungarian period that once belonged to Emperor Franz Joseph, Empress Sissi, and Crown Prince Rudolf.
- A reconstruction of the environment where Ötzi, the Iceman, once lived.
Mondotreno: The paradise of miniature railways
Located in Rablà, Mondotreno is the largest digital model railway in Italy and one of the most significant private model train collections in Europe. With over 20,000 items on display, the museum showcases detailed reconstructions of South Tyrol’s landscapes and its historic railway lines. An unmissable experience for model train enthusiasts and families alike!