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The Silk Museum, located at the back of Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel and near the parking lots. It is a replica of the silk factory, which Santa Paulina and her companions built and worked to maintain the work that was just beginning in the late nineteenth century.



The Visintainer family, from Amábile Lúcia (Santa Paulina), brought from Italy the knowledge about silkworm cultivation. In early 1896, Amábile sought a livelihood to ensure the maintenance of the young. So he went to Brusque, a municipality near Nova Trento, to gain knowledge in the handling of handlooms. The factory was created and the settlers themselves cultivated the cocoons, fruits of the silkworm. These were bought by the Little Sisters who worked in weaving.



The fabrics of such high quality have received awards. One of them even gained prominence in Paris, France. The productions were exported to a monastery in Italy, where liturgical vestments were made. For approximately 20 years, the factory supported the work of the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception Sisters, founded by Santa Paulina. However, the activities were terminated after a plague hit the silkworms.



The details of this story can be seen by the faithful in the replica of the silk factory. There are the main objects used in the making of the fabrics, the utensils used by the Little Sisters, the awards received, the looms, as well as photos of the Little Sisters who worked in this segment.



The Silk Museum is open to the public on Saturday afternoons and Sundays: from 8am to 12pm, and from 1:30 pm to 5pm. The entry fee is $ 1.00, and children under five do not pay.

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