Musei di Palazzo Farnese

About the museum

The palace was built in the 1550s and 1560s at the behest of Duchess Margaret of Austria, on the northern edge of the city and separate from the built-up centre; even today it conveys a sense of majestic severity. In 1976 the complex, which belonged to the state, was entrusted to the municipality of Piacenza, which made it the seat of the Civic Museums.

The first section opened in 1988, and in the following years the museum grew to include its present sections: the Pinacoteca (picture gallery), with Botticelli’s tondo of the Madonna Adoring the Child with the Infant Saint John; the Museo archeologico (archaeological museum); the Museo delle carrozze (carriage museum); the Museo civico, with medieval frescoes, weapons, glass and ceramics; and the Museo del Risorgimento. The bronze Fegato etrusco (Etruscan liver), found near Gossolengo in 1877, is among the most famous finds and is displayed as a highlight.

The archaeology and carriage sections are in the basements, the Pinacoteca is on the first floor, while the civic section is on the same level as the ticket office. The palace also hosts concerts, art talks and activities for families and schools.

Highlights

• Botticelli’s Madonna Adoring the Child with the Infant Saint John
• Bronze Etruscan liver (Fegato etrusco)
• Carriage museum (Museo delle carrozze)
• Archaeology section in the basements
• Museo del Risorgimento
• Collection of glass and ceramics

Permanent exhibitions

• Pinacoteca – Paintings from the Renaissance onwards, including Botticelli’s tondo of the Madonna and the Infant Saint John.
• Museo delle carrozze – Collection of historic carriages in the basements of the palace.
• Museo archeologico – Finds from the Piacenza area, including the bronze Etruscan liver.

Founded

1988

Operated by

Comune di Piacenza

Visitors per year

approx. 29,891

Admission & discounts

Free admission: First Sunday of the month: admission €1

Also free for museum donors, tour guides, ICOM members and journalists with press cards. Suspended ticket: you can buy a ticket to give to someone in financial need. Partnerships with the Museo delle Cere in Grazzano Visconti and the Castello di Gropparello.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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 museums are accessible to people with mobility disabilities. The ticket office is reached by a short flight of steps; for visitors with mobility difficulties there is a glass platform lift from the courtyard. The Pinacoteca on the first floor is reached by lift under the loggia; the archaeology and carriage sections in the basements can be reached by lift, with a platform lift for about five steps in some rooms. The civic section has no stairs. Accessible toilets on every floor. Priority entry for visitors with disabilities.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The programme includes initiatives for children and families (for example Halloween workshops) and educational activities with dedicated tickets.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Lockers

Free lockers; small bags may be taken inside. A dog-sitting service can be booked via Bauadvisor.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Some rooms, such as the Cappella ducale, can be rented by private individuals on request.

Plan your visit