Museo diocesano
Museum in the Bishop’s Palace of Albenga with early Christian finds, paintings, tapestries and sculptures; the visit includes the early Christian baptistery.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum is set up in the ancient Bishop’s Palace, the result of the joining over the centuries of several buildings, the oldest of which date back to the 11th century. The building was recovered in stages between 1947 and 1981 thanks to the collaboration of the Curia, the heritage authorities (Soprintendenze), the Istituto Internazionale di Studi Liguri and the Liguria Region; Bishop Alessandro Piazza opened it to the public on 15 May 1982.
The route leads from the room dedicated to Nino Lamboglia, with the oldest archaeological evidence recovered in the excavations of the cathedral, to the rooms with Renaissance ceramics, 15th-century paintings, the bishop’s bedroom frescoed in the mid-15th century and the former chapel of a 13th-century tower, decorated with frescoes by the workshop of the Master of Lucéram.
Among the main works are the “Martyrdom of Saint Catherine of Alexandria” by Guido Reni, the “Miracle of San Verano” by Giovanni Lanfranco and an antique copy after Caravaggio. The visit is completed by the early Christian baptistery, built in the 5th and 6th centuries beside the cathedral.
Highlights
- “Martyrdom of Saint Catherine of Alexandria” by Guido Reni
- “Miracle of San Verano” by Giovanni Lanfranco
- Bishop’s bedroom and chapel with 15th-century frescoes
- Reliquary heads of Saint Calocerus and Saint Verano
- Early Christian baptistery of the 5th and 6th centuries
Permanent exhibition
- Collezione permanente del Museo Diocesano – Route from early Christian remains and medieval paintings to 16th-century tapestries and 18th-century statues, in the rooms of the former Bishop’s Palace.
- Founded
- 1982
- Operated by
- Diocesi di Albenga-Imperia
- Visitors per year
- approx. 12,000
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €7Under 18s, university students up to age 25, teachers, over 70s, groups of more than 12 people, holders of the museum’s membership card and partner categories |
| Groups | €5 per personSpecial ticket for parish groups and school classes: museum €5 |
| Combined ticket museum and baptistery | €10Reduced €8; parish groups and school classes €6 |
| Baptistery only | €7Reduced €6; parish groups and school classes €4 |
| Guided tour for adult groups, museum only | €40Combined with the baptistery €50, baptistery only €30 |
| Guided tour for school classes and parish groups, museum only | €30Combined with the baptistery €40, baptistery only €20 |
Ticket office on the ground floor of the museum, at Via Episcopio 9. Discounts are cited for the Tourist Card Ligurian Riviera, Abbonamento Musei, COOP, FAI and Touring Club.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Albenga FS / Piazza del Popolo
From Albenga railway station (Genoa–Ventimiglia line) about 8 minutes on foot to Piazza del Popolo, then through the historic centre to Piazza San Michele. Bus lines stop in Piazza del Popolo.
By car
Paid parking
Paid car park in Piazza Nenni, near the historic centre.
The baptistery is to the left of the façade of the Cathedral of San Michele; walking around it leads to Via Episcopio, where the ticket office is.
Get directionsAmenities & 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 | Booking is mandatory for groups at the ticket office. The museum has a detached section, the Museo diocesano dell’Alta Valle Arroscia, in the Oratorio della Ripa at Pieve di Teco (open from April to October). |
