Museo Diocesano di Brugnato
Diocesan museum in the Bishop's Palace of Brugnato, the local section of the diocesan museum of La Spezia, Sarzana and Brugnato, with silverware and episcopal rooms.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum is the local section of the Museo Diocesano of La Spezia, Sarzana and Brugnato and is housed in the Palazzo Vescovile (Bishop's Palace), next to the cathedral of Saints Peter, Lawrence and Colombanus. The palace has been the residence of the bishops since 1133, when the monastic diocese of Brugnato was established, and it was built over the ancient abbey, which is presumed to date back to the 6th century. After a period of decline in the 16th century, between the 18th and 19th centuries it was rebuilt and enlarged, mainly under the bishops Lomellini and Francesco Maria Gentile, and restored several times, including for the Jubilee of 2000.
The display respects the dual function the palace had in the past, as a private residence and as a representative building. In the hall and the adjoining rooms can be seen the symbols of pastoral power and liturgical objects, the wooden trompe-l'oeil ceiling of 1767 commissioned by Bishop Gentile, and an altarpiece by Cesare Corte with the Madonna of the Rosary and Saints Peter and Dominic. One room holds a selection of silverware from the cathedral.
The study, bedroom and small room largely preserve the original furniture, liturgical books and documents from the diocesan archive, a rococo prie-dieu, frescoes uncovered during restoration, and paintings by Gian Lorenzo Bertolotto and Giuseppe Vermiglio. On the ground floor an archaeological section shows the original foundations of the palace.
Highlights
- Bishop's Palace inhabited by bishops since 1133
- Wooden trompe-l'oeil ceiling of 1767
- Silverware from the adjacent cathedral
- Altarpiece of the Madonna of the Rosary by Cesare Corte
- Bishop's study and bedroom with original furnishings
- Archaeological section with the foundations of the palace
Permanent exhibition
- Sale del Palazzo Vescovile – Reception hall, bishop's study and bedroom, cathedral silverware and an archaeological section on the ground floor.
- Founded
- 2001
- Operated by
- Diocesi della Spezia, Sarzana e Brugnato
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|
On extraordinary openings for the village's feast days the ticket is reduced, and free visits are planned.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
By public transit
By train to La Spezia Centrale station, then ATC bus services to Brugnato departing from Piazza Chiodo in La Spezia; for those arriving by train, the ATC stop is in Via Fiume, below the station walls (ticket code 06, €1.86).
By car: from Livorno and Genoa, the A12 motorway, exit Brugnato; from Parma, the A15 motorway towards La Spezia–Genoa, exit Brugnato.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours are available on request, with a few days' notice (at least one week for visits outside opening hours). |
