At the end of the eighteenth century, the ancient monastery of Santa Chiara, following the suppression of monastic orders decided by Emperor Joseph II, lost its religious destination.

A few years later, the Jewish entrepreneur Moisè Morpurgo purchased one of the smaller buildings of the complex to establish a silk factory, which was destined to become very successful. At the time, sericulture was widespread among Gorizia's Jews, who reportedly accounted for at least 50% of production.