The Schio and Alto Vicentino open-air museum of industrial archaeology has followed the experience of the open air museum developed in England and in other European countries, and especially what has been done in France regarding conservation and exploitation of the historical cultural and environmental patrimony by the creation of the ecomusee.

The exhibition features industrial monuments which are widespread throughout the towns of Schio, Torrebelvicino, Valli del Pasubio, Santorso, Piovene Rocchette, Marano Vicentino, S. Vito di Leguzzano, Malo, and extend towards Valdagno and Thiene.

The open-air museum is a structured educational itinerary for students and adults and has a Reception Centre and an Industrial Archaeology Educational Laboratory run by the Schio CIDI - ‘Centro di Iniziativa Democratica degli Insegnanti’ (Teachers’ Centre for Democratic Initiative).