Museo San Colombano – Collezione Tagliavini
Museum of the Fondazione Carisbo in the former church of San Colombano, with the Tagliavini Collection: over ninety antique musical instruments, almost all in working order.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo San Colombano is housed in a religious complex with roots in the 7th century: the church was built by Bishop Pietro I around 616 on an earlier structure. It belonged to various religious orders until its suppression during the Napoleonic era. The Chapel of the Madonna dell’Orazione dates from 1917, while the oratory contains frescoes inspired by the Passion of Christ, painted by the best pupils of the Carracci.
The Fondazione Carisbo bought the complex in 2005 and reopened it to the public in 2010. It now houses the Tagliavini Collection, a collection of over ninety antique instruments, almost all in working order: clavichords, arpicordi, organs, harpsichords, spinets, pianos, wind and folk instruments and some automatic instruments. The first core dates from 1969.
Among the most important pieces is the three-register harpsichord built in 1679 by Giovanni Battista Giusti. The project “Patrimonio Sonoro No Limits” has made the route more accessible with explanatory panels, tactile maps, an interactive app, 3D models of instruments and an augmented keyboard that reproduces the sound of historic instruments.
Highlights
- Over ninety antique instruments, almost all in working order
- Three-register harpsichord by Giovanni Battista Giusti (1679)
- Oratory with frescoes by pupils of the Carracci
- Tactile maps and augmented keyboard from the Patrimonio Sonoro No Limits project
- Oscar Mischiati Library, consultable by reservation
- Operated by
- Fondazione Carisbo – Genus Bononiae. Musei nella Città
- Visitors per year
- approx. 7,248
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5Over-70s, under-26s with a student card, teachers, journalists and other agreements |
| Children & teens | €4free up to age 5 · Reduced price for schools and young people (6–18 years): €4; free up to 5 years. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission for visitors with disabilities. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €5 per personGroups of at least 10 people, plus a €1 advance-sales fee. |
Booking and advance-sales fee: €1 per person. Free admission also for tourist guides with a badge, group escorts, ICOM members and holders of the Membership Card, Bologna Welcome Card or Card Cultura Bologna.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The project “Patrimonio Sonoro No Limits” has introduced explanatory panels, tactile maps, an interactive app, 3D models of the instruments and an augmented keyboard.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
The museum currently offers no educational activities for children; for schools the Genus Bononiae school catalogue is available.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
Consultation of the Oscar Mischiati Library by reservation (biblioteca@genusbononiae.it, tel. 051 1993 6352).
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (IT, EN, ES, FR) |
| Good to know | With the ticket you receive a card to download the audio guide onto your smartphone, in Italian, English, Spanish and French; visitors are advised to bring their own headphones. Groups must book (prenotazioni@operalaboratori.com for independent groups); call centre for information and bookings +39 055 298 9818. |
