Museo della Collegiata
Fifteenth-century museum complex of Castiglione Olona with the Collegiata, the Baptistery frescoed by Masolino, the old Canonica (canons’ house) and a museum of sacred art.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Castiglione Olona, described by Gabriele d’Annunzio as “l’isola di Toscana in Lombardia” (the island of Tuscany in Lombardy), was remodelled between 1421 and 1441 by Cardinal Branda Castiglioni according to the model of the ideal Renaissance cities. The most important monument he commissioned is the Collegiata, built on the hill of the old castle after the bull of Pope Martin V of 7 January 1422.
The complex includes the church, frescoed by Masolino da Panicale with Vecchietta and Paolo Schiavo, and the Baptistery, where Masolino’s cycle on the life of Saint John the Baptist is considered one of the peaks of the early Renaissance. The route is completed by the 15th-century Canonica, which houses the museum, and a garden on the site of the old cloister; also linked to the complex is the Chiesa di Villa.
The museum, re-laid out in 2013 in three rooms of the Canonica, holds panel paintings, manuscripts, goldsmiths’ work and sculptures from the Tesoro della Collegiata (Collegiata treasury), including the Crucifixion by Neri di Bicci and the Annunciation by Apollonio di Giovanni. Since 2010 it has been a museum recognised by Regione Lombardia.
Highlights
- Cycle of frescoes by Masolino in the Baptistery
- Frescoes in the apse of the Collegiata by Masolino, Vecchietta and Paolo Schiavo
- Crucifixion on a gold ground by Neri di Bicci
- Annunciation by Apollonio di Giovanni
- Renaissance village commissioned by Cardinal Branda Castiglioni
Permanent exhibition
- Collegiata, Battistero e Museo – Visit to the Collegiata and the Baptistery frescoed by Masolino, and to the museum with paintings, sculptures, manuscripts and treasury goldsmiths’ work in the rooms of the Canonica.
- Operated by
- Parrocchia Beata Vergine del Rosario di Castiglione Olona
- Director
- Dario Poretti
- Visitors per year
- approx. 9,371
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Groups of at least 20 people, children and young people aged 6 to 18, clergy, journalists with press card |
| Children & teens | €4free up to age 5 · Free admission under 6; reduced rate from 6 to 18. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities with one companion. |
| Groups (20+ people) | €4 per personFor groups of more than 10 people, booking is mandatory; the Baptistery holds at most 12–15 people at a time. |
| Families | €16Special family ticket: 2 adults and 2 or more children. |
| Educational workshop for children (1.5–2 hours) | €6Price per child. |
Free admission also for residents of Castiglione Olona, teachers accompanying school groups, licensed tourist guides and art history students with a valid certificate.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- 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 spaces open to the public are entirely on the ground floor, with small ramps giving access to all sections of the museum; dedicated toilets are available. The museum offers guided tours tailored to the needs of people with motor, sensory, intellectual and psychological disabilities. With the necessary permit, people with disabilities can reach the Collegiata forecourt by car (Via Cardinal Branda is a limited traffic zone, ZTL). Small dogs are admitted, carried in arms or in a carrier.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €16 · Special family ticket: 2 adults and 2 or more children. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Kids’ birthday parties
Educational routes with a final workshop for children and schools (about 1.5–2 hours, €6 per child); birthday parties at the museum can be organised for children aged 4 to 11.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Castiglione Olona Mazzucchelli/Mazzini · 550 m
Bus V135 from Varese or Tradate, stop Castiglione Olona Mazzucchelli/Mazzini (550 m from the museum). Train on the R22 line Milan–Saronno–Varese as far as Venegono Superiore (2,600 m).
By car
Free parking · 500 m to the entrance
Free public car park in Via XXIV Maggio, about 500 m from the museum.
By car: A8 Milan–Varese motorway, Gazzada exit, then SP57 for 4 km as far as Lozza, where you turn for Castiglione Olona. Via Cardinal Branda is a ZTL (limited traffic zone).
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
The Locanda Alla Collegiata, with a garden (60 seats), and a café are on site; cards, posters and publications are sold at the ticket office.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
Up to 100 guests.
Conference hall with 100 seats; information at info@museocollegiata.it.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography without flash or tripod, for personal, non-profit use, with a photo ticket available at the entrance. |
| Good to know | Booking is required only for groups of more than 10 people, preferably by e-mail to didattica@museocollegiata.it. Extraordinary openings, including evening ones, are possible on request. |
