Civico Museo Archeologico di Milano

About the museum

The origins of the Civiche Raccolte Archeologiche of Milan go back to the 19th century, when the Accademia di Brera understood the importance of an archaeological museum linked to art studies. The first nucleus was the archaeological and artistic collection of over five hundred pieces, bought in 1814 from the heirs of the painter Giuseppe Bossi, secretary of the Accademia, who had gathered finds from excavations carried out in the city. In 1862 the Regio Museo Patrio di Archeologia was established, with archaeological, artistic and historical sections, fed over the years by purchases, gifts and deposits.

Until 1898 the seat was the former church of Santa Maria a Brera. In 1900 the state and municipal collections were brought together in the Castello Sforzesco, where the prehistory and Egyptian sections remained. From 1965 the museum has occupied the area of the ancient Monastero Maggiore di San Maurizio, after the restoration of the complex, which had been heavily bombed during the last war.

The route unfolds in two buildings, the historic seat in corso Magenta and the more recent seat in via Nirone, linked by a wooden walkway across the cloister, where there is a polygonal tower with medieval frescoes. The collections include the Roman section (with “Abitare a Mediolanum”), Etruscan, Greek and early medieval sections, Gandhara art and materials from Caesarea Maritima. The museum is run by the Comune di Milano.

Highlights

• Parabiago patera and the Trivulzio diatreta cup
• Standing Buddha statue of Gandhara art
• Gota buckle and early medieval collection
• Etruscan cista and Greek section
• Polygonal tower with medieval frescoes in the cloister
• “Abitare a Mediolanum” section on Roman Milan

Permanent exhibitions

• Collezione romana e «Abitare a Mediolanum» – Finds from Roman Milan (Mediolanum), with the section “Abitare a Mediolanum”.
• Collezioni etrusca, greca e altomedievale – Etruscan and Greek collections, including an Etruscan cista, and early medieval materials, including the Gota buckle.
• Arte del Gandhara – Section devoted to Gandhara art, with the standing Buddha statue.

Founded

1862

Operated by

Comune di Milano

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every first Sunday of the month, free admission for everyone; the second Tuesday of the month, free admission for visitors up to age 25.

The ticket is non-refundable and allows one visit route per day. Free admission also for EU tourist guides and interpreters, Ministry of Culture officials, teachers with certification, ICOM members and holders of the Abbonamento Musei Lombardia, the Tourist MuseumCard and the Milano Museo Card.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The museum has two entrances: the main one at corso Magenta 15 has steps; the wheelchair-accessible one is at via Luini 4 (call +39 02 88445208). The buildings have lifts (in the corso Magenta seat only with an operator’s assistance). The walkways on floor -1 and the first floor of the polygonal tower are not accessible to wheelchair users. A loan wheelchair, five equipped toilets, Braille panels with links to LIS videos, and audio-described videos via QR code are available. In via Nirone two spaces are reserved for holders of disability permits.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum offers activities for adults, children and families, such as the “For kids” routes on pharaohs, mummies and sport in the ancient world. Free admission up to age 17.

Getting there & parking

BikeMi stations 84 (piazza Cadorna) and 85 (largo d’Ancona); taxis in piazzale Cadorna.

Amenities & dining

• Lockers

Coin lockers (€1) in front of the ticket office; refreshment area with drink vending machines on the ground floor of the via Nirone building. The bookshop is temporarily closed.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 100 guests.

For initiatives and events held outside opening hours, only the outdoor spaces (first and second cloister, garden) are available for up to 100 people, subject to authorisation from the Direzione. Requests to c.museoarcheologico@comune.milano.it.

Plan your visit