Museo Civico “Amedeo Lia”

About the museum

The museum is housed in the former convent complex of the Frati Minimi di San Francesco di Paola (Minim Friars), who settled in La Spezia in the 17th century: from 1616, when the community was granted the land, the convent and then the church were built. The building, strategically placed at the exit from the walled city, was later used as a hospital and then, after the hospital moved away, as barracks, a residence, a magistrate's court and municipal offices.

The turning point came with the donation to the City of La Spezia of the art collection of Amedeo Lia and his family. Lia, born in Apulia and naturalised as a citizen of La Spezia, began buying paintings and art objects after the Second World War, with a preference for gold-ground works and panels by the so-called primitives, which are still the main chapter of the route today. Federico Zeri regarded the collection as one of the most prestigious in Europe.

The museum was established in 1995 and opened to the public on 3 December 1996. The route begins in the first room, formerly the convent church, with religious objects, and continues with miniatures, archaeological sculptures, the picture gallery, secular objects and finally the still-life paintings.

Highlights

• Gold-ground panels and paintings by the so-called primitives
• Miniatures
• Archaeological sculptures
• Picture gallery
• Still-life paintings
• Netsuke and secular objects from the collection

Permanent exhibition

• Collezione Lia – Route with religious objects, miniatures, archaeological sculptures, the picture gallery, secular objects and still-life paintings.

Founded

1996

Operated by

Comune della Spezia

Visitors per year

approx. 6,090

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Residents of the Municipality of La Spezia: the first Sunday of even-numbered months, 19 March and 3 December. Also free for anyone whose birthday falls on the day of the visit.

The full ticket allows entry to all permanent collections and any temporary exhibitions. Also free for accompanying adults of organised or school groups.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• 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 website has a section on the museum's accessibility.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the historic centre of La Spezia, in Via del Prione.

Amenities & dining

The museum rents some spaces for cultural activities linked to the history of art.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Some spaces are rented at the discretion of the Consiglio Direttivo (Board of Directors) for cultural activities linked to the history of art (info 0187 727220).

Plan your visit