MUDEM at the 20th edition of the Festival dell'Economia di Trento
The exhibition and workshop project
Money and finance appeared very early in human history - at least 5,000 years ago - when individuals first began to specialise in different trades, producing a single good or service and acquiring everything else through exchange with others.
Over the centuries, both the forms of monetary and financial instruments and the ways in which we use them have changed profoundly. At the same time, their presence in economic systems and in everyday life has expanded enormously. Yet their core functions have remained unchanged: helping us to make payments, to save, to perform calculations, and to manage the risks of an uncertain future. Many of humanity's greatest achievements and discoveries have been made possible by money and finance - by the efforts directed towards making economic transactions safer and more efficient, and towards refining accounting techniques. Alongside these positive contributions to human progress, however, they have also at times given rise to serious problems: excessive indebtedness, speculative bubbles, price instability, and other forms of wealth destruction.
In its long journey through history, money today confronts new frontiers, taking up the challenge posed by innovations such as crypto-assets through the development of a new digital euro - a public and free form of money backed by the trust guaranteed by the European Central Bank and the Eurosystem.
The story of money and finance has always been - and continues to be - a fascinating and illuminating journey, one that deserves to be told. For this reason, on the occasion of the 2025 Festival dell'Economia, MUDEM is presenting a preview of several future museum exhibits through a four-part thematic itinerary:
- the interconnections between economics, finance, and payments, and the need for financial education;
- the ancient roots of finance and money;
- the birth of banks in medieval Italy and the English Industrial Revolution;
- the role of central banks in governing money, with a look towards the future.
Each section brings together immersive digital storytelling with evocative historical objects -archaeological artefacts, numismatic pieces, and rare books.
Alongside the exhibition, visitors may also take part in educational workshops for schools and adults. Led by staff from the Banca d'Italia, these workshops offer opportunities for active discussion of financial education topics: What lies behind our financial choices? What drives us to spend or save our money in a certain way?
We will explore these questions together in Trento, putting our own "cognitive biases" to the test.
We look forward to welcoming you to the next stage of our journey!
The Adventure of Money - From gold to digital - photo gallery
OPENING HOURS
Friday: 14:00 - 18:00
Saturday: 10:00 - 13:00; 14:00 - 18:00
Sunday: 10:00 - 13:0
SPECIAL OPENING HOURS
17-27 April; 1-4 May; 22-25 May
Every day: 10:00 - 13:00; 14:00 - 18:00
For further information, please write to trento.eventi@bancaditalia.it.
