Museo diocesano di Cosenza
Museum of the Archdiocese of Cosenza-Bisignano next to the Cathedral, with the Stauroteca (reliquary cross), the icon of the Madonna del Pilerio and liturgical vestments.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Diocesan Museum of Cosenza is housed in the former Seminary, between the Palazzo Arcivescovile (Archbishop’s Palace) and the Cathedral, in the heart of the historic centre. It was inaugurated on 25 June 2013, after a wait of almost seventy years, and gathers in a single route works from the Cathedral and other churches of the Archdiocese of Cosenza-Bisignano.
The building complex has belonged to the archbishop’s curia for five centuries: Archbishop Ruffo Teodoli bought the Palazzo dei Cicala in 1523 to make it the residence of the bishops, while the Seminary was established between 1567 and 1568 by Archbishop Tommaso Telesio.
The route is arranged concentrically around two masterpieces of the city’s devotion: the Stauroteca, a 12th-century reliquary cross that tradition links to a gift from Frederick II on the occasion of the consecration of the Cathedral in 1222, and the icon of the Madonna del Pilerio, the city’s patroness. The rooms also display sacred furnishings from the 17th to the 20th century, liturgical vestments, wooden sculptures, goldsmiths’ work commissioned by the archbishops and a picture gallery with canvases by artists from southern Italy between the 17th and 18th centuries.
Highlights
- Stauroteca, a 12th-century reliquary cross
- Icon of the Madonna del Pilerio and copies
- Polyptych of the Annunciation, 1545
- Immacolata (Immaculate Conception) by Luca Giordano
- Chalices, silverware and vestments of the Cosenza archbishops
- Wooden sculptures from the Cathedral treasury
Permanent exhibition
- Percorso museale – Rooms devoted to the bishops and the city, sacred furnishings, liturgical vestments, wooden sculpture, the Stauroteca, the Madonna del Pilerio and the artists of the Cathedral.
- Founded
- 2013
- Operated by
- Arcidiocesi di Cosenza-Bisignano
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
The museum offers educational workshops and online games (memory, puzzles, quizzes) based on the works in the collection.
Getting there & parking
The museum overlooks Piazza Parrasio, in the historic centre, near the Cathedral.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
There is a bookshop at the entrance (room A on the floor plan).
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours for school groups by appointment, led by staff experienced in museum education, with a voluntary donation; information and bookings on 0984 687171 or 0984 687172 or by e-mail. The website also offers educational workshops, interactive games (memory, puzzles, quizzes), a virtual tour and 360° views of the works. |
