In Bassano, the factory that produces the most beautiful pens in the world, and the oldest manufacturer of writing instruments in Italy, opens the doors of its company museum and the exciting Artists' Atelier, where true masterpieces are created.
After a major restoration, Montegrappa has opened its doors to the public for the first time since its founding in 1912, offering guests the opportunity to visit the company museum, home to some of the world’s most famous and valuable pens, and the fascinating departments where everything is still produced by hand.
The evocative headquarters is located in a former power plant nestled on the banks of the Brenta River, not far from the center of Bassano. It is among the oldest and most advanced manufacturers in the world, still family-run today, a cornerstone of the pride of Made in Italy.
Montegrappa pens exist to enjoy the luxury of slowing down time, savoring every gesture and giving the right value to the word.
(Aquila family)
Its history began in 1912 when Edwige Hoffman and Heinrich Helm opened the first nib factory in Italy in Bassano Veneto, on the exact same site where the factory still stands today.
In 1925, Alessandro Marzotto and Domenico Manea purchased the company, and in 1938, a great love story began between the Aquila family, the current owners, and Montegrappa, which became the supplier of Leopoldo Tullio Aquila, a stationery merchant, until Gianfranco Aquila, Leopoldo’s son, became the factory’s main customer and decided to acquire it in 1981.
These were years in which Montegrappa consolidated its leadership in the luxury pen sector, often “writing history” as with the Dragon, a fountain pen draped in a dragon, a symbol of absolute strength and power, designed by artist Federico Monti. On December 31, 1999, it was used to hand over the reins from Boris Yeltsin to Vladimir Putin.
After eight years of management for the Richemont group, in 2009 Gianfranco Aquila courageously and passionately took over Montegrappa, which is now managed by his son Giuseppe and the fourth generation of the family, including his daughter Diana.
The visit to the company museum begins in the boutique, where you can see some of the limited editions created in collaboration with the world’s leading brands—from 007 to DC Comics—and continues, not without its many “wow” effects, in the Artists’ Atelier.
In this room, visitors can witness a truly unique spectacle, where extraordinary artists, by hand and under a microscope, paint artworks by Raphael or Boldini on pens, or engrave romantic dedications with a precision bordering on magic.
The tour continues through the production rooms, where each pen component is individually turned—avoiding industrial processes like injection molding—selecting tactile materials that offer a richer, more authentic feel than standard solutions.
It’s truly fascinating to see the care with which masterpieces composed of 50 to 250 components are created, made from a wide variety of materials, from the most high-tech like titanium to the most precious like gold and diamonds.
We then ascend to the second floor, where another museum room and the evocative “Hall of Fame” await us. The walls feature portraits of all the celebrities for whom unique pens have been created—from Ernest Hemingway to Queen Elizabeth II.
Montegrappa is the brand of choice for many celebrities in the entertainment world, including major fountain pen collectors like Hugh Grant, Al Pacino, Adam Sandler, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Sylvester Stallone, who is even a shareholder in the company, for which he designed the Chaos pen.
Placing extraordinary customization at the heart of its brand experience, Montegrappa has launched the Configurator: the world’s first platform that allows you to personalize and order any type of pen online.
The visit concludes in the boutique, where, after witnessing the craftsmanship behind the creation of each individual pen, you can finally try them on.
The company overlooks a magnificent centuries-old park, which also hosts many corporate events where the art of writing takes center stage in team building and exclusive experiences.
And if a person’s value depends on their word, their class, definitely, depends on how they write it.
The Secret
While Montegrappa’s most popular pens are fountain pens, every model and customization is also available in convenient rollerball and ballpoint pens.
Useful Info
Montegrappa
Via Ca’ Erizzo 21
36061 Bassano del Grappa, Vicenza
Tel. +39 0424 522232
experience@montegrappa.com
Tours every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. The tour lasts approximately 1.5 hours.
Admission: 25 euro (reservation required). Tickets include a 25 euro discount voucher redeemable for purchases at the boutique.
