Museo Baroffio e del Santuario del Sacro Monte sopra Varese

About the museum

The museum stands beside the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Monte on the Sacro Monte of Varese, and brings together the sanctuary's historic art collection with the picture gallery donated by Giuseppe Baroffio Dall'Aglio (1859–1929), whose generosity made possible the present building, erected between 1932 and 1936. A 20th-century art section was added to these collections with the latest major restoration.

The restoration and rearrangement, completed in 2001, gave the museum a distinctive character: the plain façade, preceded by a panoramic terrace, conceals a three-storey structure in which bright 20th-century rooms alternate with the ancient rooms beneath the sanctuary, which still contain remains of 15th-century frescoes.

Among the most important pieces are the Madonna and Child by Domenico and Lanfranco da Ligurno, dating from around 1196; ancient illuminated antiphonaries, including that of Cristoforo de Predis from 1476; the choir panels carved by Giacomo Del Maino; the altar frontal donated by Duke Ludovico il Moro; and the Leonardesque altar frontal with the Virgin of the Rocks.

The picture gallery contains paintings from the 15th to the 18th century, with a core of Flemish and Dutch works and artists from Lombardy and Emilia. A large room houses about sixty 20th-century works on Marian themes, resulting from the donation of Monsignor Pasquale Macchi, secretary to Paul VI, with artists such as Guttuso, Bodini, Manfrini and Longaretti.

Highlights

• Madonna and Child by Domenico and Lanfranco da Ligurno, c. 1196
• Illuminated antiphonaries, including that of Cristoforo de Predis from 1476
• Choir panels by Giacomo Del Maino and altar frontal donated by Duke Ludovico il Moro
• Leonardesque altar frontal with the Virgin of the Rocks
• Picture gallery with Flemish, Dutch, Lombard and Emilian paintings
• Contemporary section with about sixty 20th-century works on Marian themes
• Terrace with wide panoramic views (by booking)

Permanent exhibition

• Collezioni permanenti del Museo Baroffio – Sacred art from the sanctuary, the Baroffio picture gallery from the 15th to the 18th century, and a 20th-century section on Marian themes.

Founded

1900

Operated by

Parrocchia di Santa Maria del Monte, con la Fondazione Paolo VI per il Sacro Monte

Visitors per year

approx. 4,814

Admission & discounts

The full ticket of €7 covers the Museo Baroffio and the Crypt on Wednesday to Friday. Admission is free with the Abbonamento Musei Lombardia.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Family routes, a family ticket and activities for schools, from nursery to secondary level, are available.

Getting there & parking

On foot along the Viale delle Cappelle (about 2 km and 1 hour of easy walking, cobbled surface). By car from Milan on the A8 motorway, exit Varese centro, Gazzada or Azzate.

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