The Lens of Time: Eyewear History Exhibition Opens at Rome's Palazzo Piacentini

Key facts

• The Lens of Time – Gli occhiali dalle origini al cinema opens at Palazzo Piacentini in Rome, seat of the Ministero delle Imprese e del Made in Italy.
• The exhibition is promoted and organized by ANFAO, the Associazione Nazionale Fabbricanti Articoli Ottici, with the Museo dell'Occhiale di Pieve di Cadore.
• Inauguration is on 13 October at 17:00; free public viewing runs from 14 to 30 October.
• The show traces eyewear from the 13th century to contemporary design.
• The Roman edition adds a cinema focus with Steve Della Casa, curator at the Cineteca Nazionale at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia.
• The Venice debut at Palazzo Flangini drew over 2,500 visitors.
• The project was also presented at MIDO 2026, the international eyewear event.
• The exhibition positions eyewear as cultural heritage, not only manufacturing excellence.