Museo dei Cappuccini di Genova

About the museum

The museum was founded in 1977 on the initiative of Fra Cassiano Carpaneto da Langasco, who over ten years visited all the Capuchin convents of Liguria and gathered a rich heritage of books, documents, paintings, sculptures, nativity figures (presepe), prints, sacred furnishings, vestments, silverware and handicrafts made by the friars. After the restoration of 2005 the museum reopened with a new display designed to show the material culture of the convents, where the friars, faithful to their vow of poverty, produced refined works from humble materials.

The museum is housed in the Santa Caterina convent complex, near the church of the Santissima Annunziata di Portoria. The permanent visit begins with the monumental staircase designed in 1772 by Gaetano Cantoni, which once linked the wards of the Pammatone hospital to the upper chapel of the church. Along the ramps are displayed altarpieces and works transferred to the museum after the closure of some Ligurian Capuchin convents, including works by Orazio De Ferrari, Domenico Fiasella, Giovanni Battista Paggi, Domenico Piola and Giovanni Lorenzo Bertolotto; the upper chapel completes the route.

The exhibition hall of about 250 square metres hosts rotating temporary exhibitions and, every year at Christmas, the nativity (presepe) exhibition. The museum is part of a Franciscan place of spirituality linked to Saint Catherine Fieschi Adorno.

Highlights

• Monumental staircase of 1772 by Gaetano Cantoni
• Altarpieces by Orazio De Ferrari, Domenico Fiasella and Giovanni Battista Paggi
• Works by Domenico and Paolo Gerolamo Piola
• Upper chapel of the church
• Annual Christmas exhibition of 18th-century nativity scenes (presepi)
• Admission by free-will offering

Permanent exhibition

• Scalone monumentale e Cappella superiore – Permanent route along the 1772 staircase and in the upper chapel of the church, with altarpieces and sacred art from the Capuchin convents of Liguria.

Founded

1977

Operated by

Frati Minori Cappuccini

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission by free-will offering: the museum depends on donations from visitors.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum organises activities for schools and families linked to the Portoria district and to the presepe.

Getting there & parking

The postal address is Viale IV Novembre 5; the museum entrance is in Piazzetta Santa Caterina Fieschi Adorno, also reachable from Via Bartolomeo Bosco.

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