Galleria storica del corpo nazionale dei vigili del fuoco
Historic gallery of the Fire Brigade in the Palazzo Ducale complex: wooden carts, steam engines, aerial ladders and over twenty motor vehicles.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Galleria storica dei Vigili del Fuoco of Mantua is housed in a building of the monumental complex of the Palazzo Ducale; its entrance is at the start of Piazza Arche, near the Torre di Sant’Alò, in a space called Largo Vigili del Fuoco. Founded in the 1990s on the initiative of engineer Nicola Colangelo, then commander of the Mantuan fire brigade, it is organised by the provincial command in collaboration with the Soprintendenza.
The collection documents the technical evolution of firefighting vehicles and includes several wooden carts, steam engines, aerial ladders and over twenty motor vehicles, together with helmets, uniforms, tools, graphic documentation, collections of images and films. The vehicles were recovered, preserved and brought back to life by the Mantuan firefighters themselves during their breaks from duty.
According to the national Fire Corps (Corpo nazionale dei vigili del fuoco), the gallery was the first historic museum of the Corps open to citizens. In August 2025 it received recognition from the Regione Lombardia directorate for the enhancement of museums, archives, libraries and digital services for culture.
Highlights
- Wooden fire carts and steam engines
- Aerial ladders and over twenty motor vehicles still in working order
- Helmets, uniforms and historic tools of the firefighters
- Collections of images, documents and films on the history of the Corps
- Housed in the Palazzo Ducale complex
Permanent exhibition
- Mezzi e attrezzature storiche dei Vigili del Fuoco – Wooden carts, steam engines, aerial ladders and over twenty motor vehicles, with helmets, uniforms, tools and documentary material.
- Operated by
- Comando provinciale Vigili del Fuoco di Mantova
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission according to the Museionline list (2022); to be verified.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The initiative is aimed in particular at young people and school groups; weekday visits must be booked with the Command. |
