Museo diocesano (Ascoli Piceno)

About the museum

The museum was inaugurated on 14 May 1961 at the wish of Bishop Marcello Morgante and occupies the rooms of the piano nobile (main floor) of the Episcopal Palace, in Piazza Arringo. In 1968 it had nine rooms, mostly dedicated to the main artists whose works were on display, and in 1971 it adopted regulations.

After a period of management difficulties and long closures for technical upgrades, the museum was relaunched after the 2016 earthquake, taking in many works from damaged churches. The collections have grown through recoveries from storerooms, the collections of Bishops Pietro Paolo Leonardi and Ambrogio Squintani, and contemporary artworks; the museum now has fifteen rooms.

The itinerary is divided into an ancient section, from the 8th to the 16th century, with Carlo Crivelli’s Madonna di Poggio di Bretta, the treasure and textiles associated with Saint Emidius, and a historical section extending to the 21st century, with works by Cola dell’Amatrice, Andrea Pozzo and Baciccio, and the Salone degli Stemmi with its painted 15th-century wooden ceiling.

Highlights

• Madonna di Poggio di Bretta by Carlo Crivelli
• Silver statue of Saint Emidius and Vannini’s reliquary arm
• Stories of Moses cycle in the Sala del Fogolino
• Baroque works by Andrea Pozzo and Baciccio
• Salone degli Stemmi with painted wooden ceiling

Permanent exhibitions

• Sezione antica (secoli VIII–XVI) – Sala delle Colonne, Sala del Crivelli, Sala del Tesoro, Sala Emidiana and Sala del Fogolino with the Stories of Moses cycle.
• Sezione storica (dalla Controriforma al XXI secolo) – Works by Cola dell’Amatrice, the Baroque room with Andrea Pozzo and Baciccio, the modern art room and the Salone degli Stemmi.

Founded

1961

Operated by

Diocesi di Ascoli Piceno – Ufficio Arte Sacra e Beni Culturali

Visitors per year

approx. 2,000

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is by voluntary donation.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

A guided route for adults and children is offered, devoted to the textiles and gold and silverwork linked to the patron saint; for schools, routes on liturgy, faith and iconography are available.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Wi-Fi

The museum’s website lists WiFi among its services; no conditions of use are given.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit