Take a guided tour of a textile factory and learn the art of weaving with a hands-on experience.
Family-run weaving workshops
The Tessitura Giaquinto textile factory is one of the few remaining family-run weaving workshops in Italy. Located in the picturesque village of Gagliano del Capo, in the Apulia region, it is just an hour’s drive from the town of Lecce. The factory offers 45-minute and 90-minute tours, and on the longer tour visitors get a hands-on experience.
The 90-minute tours include a hands-on experience
An expert guide brings visitors through every step of the textile process. They will discover not only the functioning of the looms, the use of Jacquard cards and wooden shuttles, but also the history behind each technique and tool used, finding out all about weaving, from the choice of yarn to the finished fabric. On the 90-minute tour they also get the chance for a hands-on experience, creating a spool they will then insert into an ancient loom, magically starting the weave of the fabric.
“We are proud to offer customers a 10% per cent discount”
“We only work with high quality natural fibres,- Rocco Musio, of Tessitura Giaquinto, explains. -Our production is characterised by the direct care of each stage of the textile process, and we use only high-end yarns. Our approach to weaving is slow and meticulous, following artisan traditions handed down from generation to generation. In addition, we are proud to offer our customers a 10% per cent discount to as a token of appreciation for their visit the Tessitorua Giaquinto.”
And after the visit it’s worth taking time to explore this pretty little village in the Salento region, relax by the sea, have a swim or enjoy a meal in a local trattoria.
