Museo diocesano e del Codex
Diocesan museum of Rossano with the Codex Purpureus Rossanensis, a 6th-century Greek gospel book, and works from the cathedral.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum was founded by Archbishop Giovanni Rizzo and opened on 18 October 1952 in two rooms of the Palazzo Arcivescovile (Archbishop’s Palace) in Rossano: it was the first diocesan museum in Calabria. Objects from the treasury of the Cathedral were gathered there, to which works from other churches, the municipality and private donors were added over time.
The rooms were reorganised in 1977; between the late eighties and 2000 the museum was expanded using two wings of the Palazzo Arcivescovile behind the Cathedral, and the new venue opened on 9 December 2000.
The most important piece is the Codex Purpureus Rossanensis, a 6th-century Greek gospel book on purple parchment, which UNESCO entered in its Memory of the World register on 9 October 2015. After restoration in Rome, the manuscript returned to Rossano on 3 July 2016, when the museum reopened with a new display. The route is now divided into a section devoted to the Codex and one on the history of the diocese and the city.
Highlights
- Codex Purpureus Rossanensis (6th century, UNESCO Memory of the World)
- Tactile tablet so that blind visitors can explore the Codex
- Silver bust of the Madonna Achiropita
- Icon of the Pietà by Andrea Pavias (1499)
- Architectural monstrance known as the Sfera Greca
- Liturgical vestments, parchments and music codices
- Founded
- 1952
- Operated by
- Arcidiocesi di Rossano-Cariati
- Visitors per year
- approx. 17,000
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €5residents of the municipality of Corigliano-Rossano, groups of at least 20 people, members of AMEI, FAI and ICOM, clergy and seminarians, police officers and off-duty journalists |
| Children & teens | €4free up to age 6 · Children aged 7 to 17: €4. School groups: €3 per person. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with a certified disability above 74%; if they cannot manage independently, one companion is also admitted free. |
| Groups (20+ people) | €5 per personGroups of at least 20 people |
| Families | –Family discounts are available; the museum does not give details. |
| School groups | €3Rate reserved for schools |
| Guided visit of the Codex and museum route (in Italian, groups of up to 30 people) | €30By booking; in English, French or Russian €40 |
| Guided visit of the Codex, museum route and Cathedral (in Italian, groups of up to 30 people) | €60By booking; in English, French or Russian €70 |
The ticket includes a guided visit to the Codex section. Admission is also free for children under 7, licensed tour guides and police on duty, journalists on duty with a press card and religious of the Archdiocese of Rossano-Cariati.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- 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
A tactile tablet allows blind and visually impaired visitors to explore the manuscript; a QR code links to a video in Italian Sign Language (LIS) and international sign language. The museum does not publish information on the physical accessibility of the spaces.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The museum occupies two wings of the Palazzo Arcivescovile, behind the Cathedral of Rossano.
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 | Guided tours can be booked by phone or e-mail; a virtual tour is also available on the website. |
