Museo Casa di Arlecchino

About the museum

The museum is housed in Palazzo Grataroli, in the medieval village of Oneta, along the ancient Via Mercatorum that linked Bergamo to the Valtellina. The building, of medieval origin and probably with a defensive function, became a noble residence between the 15th and 17th centuries, when it was remodelled by the Grataroli, a powerful local family that had grown rich in Venice and brought Venetian architectural taste to the valley: it is the only example of Venetian architecture in the Valle Brembana.

The Grataroli had the large hall, the Camera Picta, frescoed with decorations from the second half of the 15th century that show the family's rise among healing saints and a chivalric tournament; at the entrance a fresco depicts the Homo Selvadego (wild man), a popular figure in Rhaetian-Alpine communities. Tradition links the palazzo to Harlequin and to the actor Alberto Naselli, who is said to have stayed in Oneta, but there are no documentary sources to prove it.

Owned by the municipality of San Giovanni Bianco, the palazzo houses the Museo Casa di Arlecchino, with a selection of masks of commedia dell'arte characters and, since 2015, a permanent puppet theatre run by the Compagnia del Riccio. The museum also hosts educational workshops and guided tours along the Via Mercatorum.

Highlights

• Camera Picta with 15th-century frescoes
• Fresco of the Homo Selvadego at the entrance
• Masks of commedia dell'arte characters
• Permanent puppet theatre of the Compagnia del Riccio
• Children's workshops “Crea la tua maschera” (“Make your own mask”) and “Costruisci Arlecchino” (“Build Harlequin”)

Permanent exhibition

• Museo Casa di Arlecchino – Commedia dell'arte masks, the 15th-century Camera Picta and a puppet theatre in Palazzo Grataroli.

Operated by

Comune di San Giovanni Bianco

Visitors per year

approx. 5,088 (2022)

Admission & discounts

Standard single admission ticket €1.50.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

In the permanent workshops children can make their own mask or build a jointed Harlequin, follow the children's audio guide or take part in a treasure hunt in the museum.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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