MAST Castel Goffredo

About the museum

The MAST (Museo Arte Storia Territorio) is the city museum of Castel Goffredo, in the Alto Mantovano. It arose from a project of the non-profit association (onlus) Gruppo San Luca, a voluntary body of the Prepositurale di Sant'Erasmo parish, active since 2000 in protecting and promoting the church's artistic heritage, and has been recognised by Regione Lombardia since 2018.

The museum occupies about 1,100 square metres in two buildings adjoining the church, dating from the 15th and 16th centuries: the Antica Prevostura, long the residence of the provosts, and Palazzo Negri, later the Casa Canonica. Restored from 2014 onwards, they preserve marble portals, fireplaces, terracotta floors and interior decorations.

The route combines chronological order with recurring themes of local history, such as water and weaving, and includes an archaeological section from the Etruscans to the earliest Christian evidence, a multimedia museum with characters in digital reconstruction, the parish historical archive with documents from the 15th century, the Antica Libreria del Clero and a library of art history. The Antica Sagrestia, set up inside the church, displays the treasury of relics and reliquaries donated by the Gonzaga family and by devotees between the 17th and 18th centuries. The Torre di Castelvecchio, dedicated to Corrado Bocchi, also belongs to the museum network.

Highlights

• Route through the history of Castel Goffredo, with the themes of water and weaving
• Archaeological section from the Etruscan age to the earliest Christian evidence
• Multimedia museum with a magic mirror, a talking picture and holographic projection
• Antica Sagrestia with reliquaries and the treasury of the Prepositurale di Sant'Erasmo
• Parish historical archive and Antica Libreria del Clero

Permanent exhibitions

• Percorso espositivo del MAST – History of Castel Goffredo in chronological order, with the themes of water and weaving, an archaeological section and a multimedia museum.
• Antica Sagrestia – Relics and reliquaries of the Prepositurale di Sant'Erasmo, including the altar-shaped reliquaries donated by Vincenzo I Gonzaga in 1610.

Operated by

Gruppo San Luca onlus (parrocchia di Sant'Erasmo)

Visitors per year

approx. 2,354

Admission & discounts

Free admission also for two teachers per class and for AMLM members.

Accessibility

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

Small animals are admitted only in a carrier; guide dogs for blind and deaf visitors are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Workshops for children in the 2024–2025 season (for example dressing up as an archaeologist, actor, chef or historical potter); the multimedia museum features digital characters who tell the story of the town.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in Via Botturi, a short walk from Piazza Mazzini. Nearest railway stations: Asola and Remedello (Brescia–Parma line), Desenzano del Garda and Peschiera del Garda (Milan–Venice line); motorway exits on the A4 at Desenzano del Garda (20 km) and Sirmione (23 km). Airports: Verona-Catullo (53 km) and Bergamo-Orio al Serio (95 km).

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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