Museo della Beata Vergine di San Luca

About the museum

The museum, opened in 2004, was created to acquaint citizens and visitors with the devotional, historical and artistic heritage linked to the image of the Madonna with Child venerated on the Guardia hill, whose cult in Bologna dates back to the late 12th century.

The core is the collection of Dr Antonio Brighetti, supplemented by objects from the sanctuary and from private individuals, and by reproductions. The route, spread over several levels, illustrates the transport of the image into the city, the history of the sanctuary, the routes of the processions with their printed programmes, and reconstructions of the processional canopy and of the silver cover.

The building is the cassero of Porta Saragozza, a section of the third ring of medieval walls, rebuilt in neo-medieval forms in 1858 as the setting for the annual processions that come down from the sanctuary along the San Luca portico to the centre.

Highlights

• Brighetti collection on devotion to the Madonna di San Luca
• History of the processions from the sanctuary to the centre of Bologna
• Reconstruction of the canopy with the icon and of the silver processional cover
• Prints, holy cards, postcards and devotional booklets
• Neo-medieval cassero of Porta Saragozza, dating from 1858

Permanent exhibition

• Percorso storico-didattico sulla Madonna di San Luca – Route over several levels with the Brighetti collection, the history of the processions, the reconstructed canopy and devotional objects.

Founded

2004

Visitors per year

approx. 2,500

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the museum is free; guided tours are paid and must be booked in advance.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• 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

Architectural barriers are overcome up to the first floor by a lift; for the upper floors a virtual visit is available in the educational room on the ground floor.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The museum offers activities for families and educational workshops for schools.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

Bookshop with the museum guide, conference room and multimedia station.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit