Museo diocesano di Ancona "Mons. Cesare Recanatini"

About the museum

The museum has ancient origins: its first nucleus, formed of materials that emerged during works in the cathedral and of finds recovered from other churches of Ancona, was placed in 1834 in the Cripta delle Lacrime as the Museo di Antichità Cristiane (Museum of Christian Antiquities), desired by the cardinal bishop Cesare Nembrini Pironi Gonzaga. After the restoration of the cathedral, in 1952 the collection moved to some rooms of the Vecchio Episcopio, where it remained until 1972, when a strong earthquake seriously damaged the palace.

After long works the museum reopened in autumn 1993, enlarged and reorganised, thanks to the commitment of Mons. Cesare Recanatini. In December 2004 the collapse of the cliff below made closure necessary; on 2 May 2008 the museum was inaugurated again, with the building made safe and restored together with the cloister, and with rooms equipped with wooden trussed ceilings.

The seat, the Palazzo del Vecchio Episcopio on the summit of the Colle Guasco, next to the Romanesque cathedral of San Ciriaco, was the seat of the city magistracy and later the bishops’ residence; in 1464 Pope Pius II died there. The route comprises, on the ground floor, the cloister with capitals, coats of arms and inscriptions, and ten rooms from the Christian origins to the Gothic period, with coins, bells and works of the 15th and 16th centuries; on the first floor are the Calvary, the Treasury, textiles, three picture gallery rooms, banners and tapestries.

Highlights

• Palazzo del Vecchio Episcopio on the Colle Guasco
• Cloister with capitals, coats of arms and inscriptions
• Rooms from the early Christian to the Gothic period, and the Saint Ciriaco room
• Treasury, textiles, banners and tapestries
• Picture gallery with panels and canvases
• Free admission and tactile visit for the blind

Permanent exhibition

• Percorso in diciotto sale e chiostro – From the lapidary cloister to the early Christian, Romanesque and Gothic rooms, the Treasury, textiles, the picture gallery, banners and tapestries.

Founded

1834

Operated by

Diocesi di Ancona-Osimo

Visitors per year

approx. 3,800

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission with guided tours.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• 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 museum is accessible also to people with mobility impairments thanks to the removal of architectural barriers; a tactile visit for the blind is available.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & 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