Museums
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| Here below you can find a list of the most important museums of the city |
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Last Supper/ Cenacolo by Leonardo Pinacoteca di Brera Leonardo's horse Civici Musei Castello Sforzesco This museum sprawls throughout a series of Renaissance halls that were once part of the Duke of Milan’s (Ludovico Sforza’s) palace. It includes the frescoed ceilings of the Duke’s private chapel, as well as collections of sculpture and painting. Michelangelo’s Pietà Rondanini is another highlight, as well as the “Sala delle Asse”, a room with a superb ceiling decoration designed by Leonardo da Vinci. There are sections dedicated to furniture, musical instruments, ceramics, painting and sculpture. The Egyptian and archaeological sections are accessed from the Corte Ducale. The “Pinacoteca” picture gallery houses works by Mantegna, Antonello da Messina, Canaletto, Vincenzo Foppa and many others. Tours of the tunnels, battlements and fortifications, every Sun at 15.00, €13/10 per person, book on 02.6596.937 no later than the Fri beforehand. Museo Diocesano This is one of the most prestigious theatrical museums in Europe and it is dedicated to the history of the famous Milan theatre and opera house. Its new layout, designed by Pier Luigi Pizzi, hosts vast collections of portraits, documents, autographs, busts, posters and other objects connected to great musicians and composers such as Verdi, Puccini and Toscanini. The visit includes a look into the theatre itself, provided there are no rehearsals. Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci Machinery, transport, industry, and a series of models based on Leonardo’s inventions. The museum’s enormous collection is housed in an ex-monastery, with cars, aircraft, ships, scooters, trains, reconstructions of ancient workshops for metalworking, clockmaking, guitar-making, right through to electronics, textiles and astronomy. The latest arrival is the Enrico Toti submarine. A guided tour inside the sub (€8 - €10) lasts about 20 minutes, limited availability. Book in advance, tel. 899.000.900. Open from Tues- Fri (10.00-16.15) and weekends and holidays (10.00-17.45). The museum has a bookshop, self-service restaurant (12.00-14.00) and bar. Recommended for children of all ages. Villa Belgiojoso Bonaparte This fine Neoclassical building has been recently restored, and presents lovely 19th-early 20th century art, including Canova’s neo-classical sculpture, Hayez’s romantic paintings, and examples by the Italian Impressionist Scapigliatura. There are also works from the Divisionist and Realist movements, and by the Futurists Balla, Boccioni and Marino Marini. The highlight is the spectacular political manifesto, “Il Quarto Stato” by Pellizza da Volpedoi. The villa looks onto a small but interesting landscaped garden. The modern art gallery PAC is next door. Museo di Storia Naturale This museum has a series of superb dioramas, with stuffed animals shown in their natural environment. There are brief captions in English. There is a pleasant snack-bar and a bookshop near the entrance. The Paleolab, is dedicated to palaeontology, fossils and minerals; the Biolab, in the Serre of Palazzo Dugnani, is an interactive laboratory. Information at the desk of the main museum. Museo Archeologico An ex-convent houses exhibits from Ancient Roman Milan, along with Greek, Etruscan and Medieval material, and a small section on Ghandara (India). There is a section dedicated to the Lagioia collection of Apulian antiquities: terracotta, alabaster, bone and ivory pieces from the Ancient Greek peoples of Magna Grecia. In the garden, you can see a 24-sided Ancient Roman tower and part of the Roman city walls. San Maurizio. Admission free. Open Tues to Sat 9.00-13.00, 14.30-17.30. Sun and Mon closed. Opening hours are not guaranteed as some sessions are run by volunteers. This church, alongside the Archaeological Museum, contains a complete cycle of frescoes dating from the 16th century, with work by various Lombard painters, especially Bernardino Luini and his sons Aurelio and Giovan Pietro. Restoration work is still underway, and therefore the choir (behind the frescoed partition) may be closed. Pinacoteca Ambrosiana The masterpieces on show include the “Portrait of a Musician” by Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio's “Basket of Fruit” and Raphael's preparatory cartoon for the “School of Athens” fresco. Also featured are some Lombard 15th and 16th century paintings, Renaissance Veneto works, Flemish paintings and more. There is also an interesting bookshop. Tesoro di Sant’Ambrogio e Mosaici The ceiling of the church is beautifully decorated with gold mosaics and depicts the saints Ambrogio, Gervaso and Protaso (whose bodies are kept in the crypt under the altar). The original chapel was palaeochristian and the burial site of St. Satiro, the brother of St Ambrogio. The small museum attached contains holy relics and palaeochristian remains. Acquario Civico di Milano This small Art Nouveau building is attractive in itself, particularly after the recent restoration works completed in March 2006. The display presents a range of aquatic environments, such as a river stream, the Po delta, and the Venice lagoon. One tank contains a reconstruction of a wreck, and another is built in such a way that the fish look down onto the visitors from above. There is also a bookshop, cafe, and a library on marine biology. Points of Interest Milan's finest cemetery stretches over an area of 250,000 square metres. The structure dominating the entrance dates from 1860 and reflects the eclectic architectural style of the time. Inside the cemetery, the elaborate tombs create an open-air gallery of late 19th and 20th century sculpture. On the left just inside the forecourt, there is an office that distributes leaflets in English and German with a map. Within the cemetery, panels indicate the most significant tombs. Museo del Duomo Stained glass, sculpture, tapestries, paintings, vestments, and diagrams illustrating the development of the cathedral over the centuries. Captions in Italian, with explanatory cards in Italian, English, French and German. Parco Archeologico and Antiquarium This museum is on the site of Milan’s Colosseum, though there is not much left of it. The Antiquarium presents an interesting selection of Ancient Roman and later relics, including a reconstruction of a gladiator’s armour, and video impressions of what the arena once looked like. Museo Popoli e Culture The Pime missionaries brought to Italy a vast collection of pottery, ivories, jades, musical instruments, and other various artefacts from Asia, especially from China. The museum aims to explain the life, culture, values and beliefs of the people of the world. “Fair trade” shop and bookshop. Museo d’Arte e Scienza A private museum that reveals the differences between real and fake antiques, whether pictures, pottery, furniture, tapestries or silverware. You can handle objects, feel their patina, and discover how to use magnifying glasses and other instruments to verify the originality of a piece. Captions in Italian and German. Staff on hand for explanations in Italian, German, English, French and Portuguese. English leaflet. A special section is dedicated to “understanding art by Leonardo da Vinci”. Stadio Meazza (San Siro) Tour & Inter-Milan Museum A football enthusiast’s dream: everything about Milan's two teams and the legendary stadium. The museum features 24 life-size statues of Milan and Inter heroes (including Gullit, Rijkaard, Liedholm, Rivera, Van Basten, Mazzola, Suarez, Matthaus, Meazza, Rumenigge) made by the Viareggio Carnival papier-maché artists. Projections of match action. Includes visit to the stadium. Museo/Studio Francesco Messina An important collection of works by the Sicilian painter Messina, spanning a period of more than fifty years. The museum is housed in the former church of San Sisto, restored by Messina himself. Museo del Risorgimento The museum displays objects from the first arrival of Napoleon in Italy until the liberation of Rome in 1870. On display are some interesting items from the crowning of Napoleon as King of Italy and his personal souveniers, the writing cabinet of Giuseppe Mazzini and other artefacts from the Garibaldi period. Civico Museo di Milano Housed in the recently restored Palazzo Morando Attendolo Bolognini, this museum presents the history of the city from the 18th to late 19th century, with paintings, prints, documents and art objects. The interior also illustrates a typical noble Milanese 18th century home. The Museo di Storia Contemporanea, in the same building, is open when temporary exhibitions are on. Museo del Giocattolo e del Bambino One of the largest childhood museums in Europe, with its exhibition of more than 2000 authentic toys. The displays explain the world history of the toy from 1700 and 1950. Captions in Italian. Especially recommended for children of any age, although adults may find themselves just as fascinated! Casa di Riposo per Musicisti Giuseppe Verdi This rest home was conceived, built and financed by Giuseppe Verdi at the end of the 19th century, and is also the place where the composer chose to be buried. The only section open to visitors is the Verdi tomb, with attractive mosaic decoration by Pogliaghi. A monument to Verdi stands at the centre of the piazza in front of the building. Museo del Cinema Italiana This museum was inaugurated in 1985 and was dedicated to one of the main collectors, Gianni Comencini. It contains memorabilia and important documentation regarding the evolution of cinema in Milan, Italy and the rest of the world. Also interesting are film excerpts and equipment used by the Lumière brothers and George Mèliès. Films are screened at 16.00 and 17.00, but booking is essential. Palazzo Reale- Museo Della Reggia A large Neoclassical building that was sadly seriously damaged by bombs in 1943, which destroyed the fine decorations and the precious furnishings in the interior rooms of the palace. Recently restored, it is now possible to admire some of the beautiful halls. Museo Beni. Culturali Cappuccini. This museum provides a historical pathway through the world of the Capuchin Friars Minor of Lombardy who have been working among the local population since 1535. For the first time the treasures of the picture gallery, the archives, the library and the vast collection of artefacts from the various convents are displayed. The exhibition includes ancient paintings (from the 16th and 17th centuries), manuscripts and other valuable items. Museo Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro The foundation houses a significant group of Arnaldo Pomodoro’s works that document all his artistic production. Among them it is possible to admire the famous “Sfera no. 1”, proof for his work housed in the New York MoMA Museum. Museo d’Arte Paolo Pini The museum is dedicated to the contemporary art. It houses more than one hundred works of Italian and foreign artists of several different trends. The MAPP aim is that of hosting new challenged artists and to become a relevant centre for culture events. Museo Fondazione Luciano Minguzzi This contains a collection of the major sculptures, paintings and drawings by the sculptor Luciano Minguizzi, including some of remarkable dimensions. The most famous is the Saint Peter’s Door of Good and Evil (Vatican City) and the fifth door of the Duomo of Milan, of which the preparatory studies can be viewed. Fondazione Luciana Matalon per l’arte Contemporanea The original surroundings of the artist Luciana Matalon are enriched by her artistic production of paintings, sculptures and jewellery creations that are on view to the general public. Studio Treccani, Fondazione Corrente Treccani Studio The collection of paintings, graphic works and sculptures that are housed in this museum shows all the artistic production from the beginning of the Realist period, up to subsequent and more recent developments. Casa Museo Mangini Bonomi An elegant Milanese building reveals the diverse personal collection of Carlo Mangini Bonomi. The museum houses a great variety of interesting objects: in addition to the wonderful furnishings of the five floors that are still partly owned by the family, many unique items are also on display, including game cards, fans, weapons, games, archaeological objects and more. Villa Clerici, Galleria d’Arte Sacra dei Contemporanei Important collections of sacred art from the 20th century. Works, paintings, sculptures, stained-glass windows and ceramics executed by great artists are housed in this refined villa dating from the 18th century. Also includes some masterpieces by Messina, Manzu’, Funi, Carpi, and Bodini. Museo dell’Energia e del Territorio AEM The AEM powerhouse features a modern laboratory-museum that allows visitors to easily understand some basic energy processes and technologies. Entrance only for groups or school groups: compulsory booking. Museo dell’ Acqua This museum shows the last century methodologies employed to drain water. Museo Manzoniano e Casa di Alessandro Manzoni The museum is situated in a historical and elegant building where one of the greatest Italian writers of the 19th century lived from 1814 until his death in 1873. It is still possible to visit all the rooms in the house, including the ‘Sala di Conversazione’ where Manzoni entertained friends every evening, and his bedroom. The study is one of the highlights as personal objects are on display, and the most interesting item of furniture: the ink-stained desk where Manzoni wrote his famous novel I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed). A museum thoroughly recommended. Tours available for groups. Museo Bagatti Valsecchi The Bagatti Valsecchi brothers spent much of their lives in the late 19th century collecting antiques from all over the country, and commissioned all sorts of period-style furnishings from skilled Lombard craftsmen in order to recreate an authentic Renaissance atmosphere in their own home. Experts will enjoy distinguishing authentic 16th-century pieces from the reproductions. Fact-sheets are provided for each room, in English, German, Japanese, French, Spanish and Italian. Exhibits include furniture, glass, ceramics and ancient weapons. Casa Museo Boschi-Di Stefano Husband and wife, Antonio and Marieda Boschi began collecting contemporary art in 1927. When Boschi died in 1987, he left over 2,000 works to the Municipality, with the condition that his home should become a museum. This small apartment presents the best of their collection (Sironi, De Chirico, Savinio, Fontana, Carrà, Arturo Martini, Campigli, Tosi, De Pisis, Dova, Morlotti, Chighine, Piero Manzoni, Casorati, Marussig…). The building itself is a fine piece of 1930s architecture by Portaluppi. The pictures are not always easy to appreciate – they cover virtually all the available wallspace, and the lighting is often inadequate – but overall the museum provides an evocative impression of the sort of Milan home in which the artists of the day gathered for evenings of music and conversation in the company of Antonio, Marieda, and their cats which appear in two of the paintings. Museo Poldi Pezzoli A private museum created in the 19th century by Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli, and a good example of the eclectic taste typical of the time. It has a fine collection of paintings including Mantegna, Bellini, Botticelli, Piero della Francesca and Pollaiuolo. In addition, there are collections of decorative arts, such as jewellery, clocks and watches, sundials, ceramics, glass and furniture. English leaflet available. Free audio-guide in English, Italian and Japanese. There are special audioguides in Italian and English for young children and a more scientific guide for children up to 16. Villa Necchi Campiglio After three years of restoration work, this villa, built in the early 1930s, has opened to the public. Designed by architect Piero Portaluppi, has a large garden, which includes a heated swimming pool and a tennis court, which were revolutionary features at the time. The original owners’ love for all the latest technology also produced the vast marble-clad bathrooms, an internal housephone system, and an immense gate that rises vertically from the ground to close the entrance at night. |
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