Museo del Tesoro del Duomo di Vigevano
Diocesan museum in the Bishop’s Palace of Vigevano with the treasure donated by Francesco II Sforza: Flemish tapestries, silverware, illuminated codices and paintings.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo del Tesoro del Duomo opened in 1968 in the Bishop’s Palace (Palazzo Vescovile) of Vigevano and preserves the objects donated to the diocese in 1534 by Duke Francesco II Sforza, who wanted to enrich the cathedral of his birthplace with silverware, tapestries and liturgical vestments. Other donations from citizens were added to the original core over time.
After a long renovation the museum now presents a new display that combines technology and multimedia and has removed architectural barriers. The entrance is in the loggia of the Bishop’s Palace, reached from Piazza Sant’Ambrogio.
The route includes finds from the parish church (pieve) and baptistery of Velezzo Lomellina, the strongbox that brought the Sforza donation to Vigevano, the section devoted to Bishop Caramuel with the wooden model of the cathedral by Antonio da Lonate, the multimedia room, the tapestry room, the gold-ground panels, the goldsmiths’ room, the vestments room, the room of codices and choir books, and the paintings by Bernardino Ferrari. From the museum one can also access the rooms of the Bishop’s Palace (Museo diffuso, a dispersed museum), which can be visited by reservation or on the occasion of events.
Highlights
- Brussels tapestries of around 1520 with the “Prodigal Son” and the “Story of Esther”
- The “Pace” (pax, a liturgical plaque) by a Lombard school artist, late 15th century
- Ivory crozier made of narwhal tusk
- Illuminated codices and choir books by Giovan Gerolamo Decio and a missal by Guglielmo Giraldi
- Six Passion panels by Bernardino Ferrari
- Wooden model of the cathedral by Antonio da Lonate
Permanent exhibition
- Il Tesoro del Duomo di Vigevano – Tapestries, silverware, illuminated codices, vestments and paintings, largely from the donation of Francesco II Sforza in 1534.
- Founded
- 1968
- Operated by
- Diocesi di Vigevano
- Visitors per year
- approx. 4,500
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- 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
- Audio description: no information
The new display has removed architectural barriers. At the entrance visitors can ask for the free Accessible Guide, in easy-to-read language with augmentative and alternative communication symbols, designed for people with cognitive or sensory disabilities, people with autism and children.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
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
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The museum also offers 360° virtual tours of the museum and of the Museo diffuso in the Bishop’s Palace; the rooms of the Museo diffuso can be visited by reservation or on the occasion of events. Midweek groups book through the museum’s website. |
