Musei del Duomo di Modena

About the museum

The Musei del Duomo di Modena are beside the Romanesque cathedral, which since 1997 has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List together with the Torre Ghirlandina and Piazza Grande. The museum route completes the visit to the Duomo and holds works and fragments that tell the story of the building and its diocese.

The Lapidarium grew out of the sculptures and finds that emerged during the restoration of the cathedral at the end of the nineteenth century. It gathers Roman sculptures and reliefs reused in the construction of the Duomo, fragments of the earlier early-medieval cathedrals, Romanesque finds and ancient, medieval and modern inscriptions. It includes the choir screens (plutei) of the early-medieval cathedral, the Arca di San Geminiano and eight metopes with fantastic creatures attributed to the workshop of Wiligelmo.

The Treasury presents liturgical art from the Romanesque period to the nineteenth century: furnishings, sculptures, reliquaries, textiles, paintings and manuscripts. Among the oldest pieces are the altar-reliquary of San Geminiano and a Gospel book from the scriptorium of Nonantola with a silver and ivory binding. Sixteenth-century Flemish tapestries with scenes from Genesis are also on display. Since 2023, on the second floor, an interactive route traces the stages in the construction of the monumental complex.

Highlights

• Metopes with fantastic creatures from the workshop of Wiligelmo
• Arca di San Geminiano
• Plutei of the early-medieval cathedral
• Treasury with the Nonantola Gospel book and medieval reliquaries
• Sixteenth-century Flemish tapestries with scenes from Genesis
• Interactive route on the construction of the Duomo

Permanent exhibitions

• Lapidario – Sculptures, reliefs and inscriptions from the Duomo, including the metopes from Wiligelmo's workshop and the Arca di San Geminiano.
• Tesoro del Duomo – Liturgical art from the Romanesque period to the nineteenth century: reliquaries, manuscripts, textiles, sculptures and Flemish tapestries.
• Percorso interattivo sulla storia del Duomo – Since 2023, on the second floor, a multimedia route traces the stages in the construction of the monumental complex.

Founded

1350

Operated by

Basilica Metropolitana di Modena

Admission & discounts

The full ticket (€6) also includes access to the presbytery and sacristy of the Duomo (“Colori d'arte e fede” route); the reduced ticket (€4) does not. Free admission also for teachers accompanying school groups, AMEI members, licensed guides and interpreters, and working journalists.

Accessibility

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

The museum has a lift and is accessible to people with disabilities.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The website offers educational activities for nursery, primary and secondary schools, as well as activities for children.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Bookshop renovated in 2016, with publications on the Duomo in several languages, postcards and gift items.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit