Merano Women’s Museum

The Women's Museum (Frauenmuseum) in Merano is a unique museum with a captivating history. Founded in 1988 by Evelyn Ortner (1944-1997), a native of Vorarlberg, Austria, with a passion for collecting, the museum's collection initially began as "The Little Museum of Dress and Trinkets". Today, the Women's Museum association boasts double the original space and collection, and is a popular attraction in the Old Town of Merano. The Museia Merano also enjoys international recognition and coordinates the International Association of Women's Museums.

It champions the visibility of women's history and encourages discussions on topics like equal opportunities. Through clothing, fashion trends, accessories, and everyday objects, the Women's Museum traces the history of women, narrating their lives from past eras to the present. You'll discover how the corset restricted women, how the miniskirt revolutionised feminine ideals, how women skied in flowing skirts, and who actually wore the trousers.

The permanent exhibition is designed like a shopping street with window displays. The exhibition hall hosts temporary exhibitions from Italy and abroad, exploring feminine ideals, imagery, and roles in greater depth. The museum also offers a diverse cultural programme and a specialist library. Once located under the Merano Arcades, it has been housed in the former Clarissan monastery at the Piazza del Grano square since 2011. The two upper floors of this medieval monastery, the only one for women in Merano, have been renovated to be fully accessible.

How to get there: You'll find the Museia Merano in the Via Mainardo road. There is a large pay-and-display car park directly behind the building. A bus stop is located just a few metres away, and the train station is about a 10-minute walk from the museum.