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Public museum dedicated to photography at Villa Ghirlanda: over two million works from the post-war period to today, free admission.
September 18, 2026 – February 7, 2027
Second stage of a project on the dialogue between photography and other arts, curated by Matteo Balduzzi: six artists and a duo present new works on the relationship between image and sound.
September 18, 2026 – February 7, 2027
More than 90 photographs by over 50 authors, from Ghirri to Basilico, Jodice and Giacomelli, show how the sacred survives in religious institutions and in more secular forms, from politics to sport.
The Museo Nazionale di Fotografia (MUNAF), formerly known as the Museo di Fotografia Contemporanea (MUFOCO), is housed at Villa Ghirlanda in Cinisello Balsamo, on the outskirts of Milan. It presents itself as the only public museum in Italy entirely dedicated to photography.
The collection comprises more than two million works, including black-and-white and colour prints, slides, negatives, videos and installations by over six hundred Italian and foreign authors. The images offer a view of photography from the post-war period to today and address themes such as the transformation of the contemporary landscape, portraiture, social photography and artistic research.
The photographic holdings derive largely from public commissions begun in the mid-1980s, as well as from acquisitions, donations and deposits. An online search engine makes more than 58,000 images viewable; scholars and researchers can access the originals in the archive by reservation. The museum also has a specialised library, an education service and a programme of exhibitions and festivals dedicated to photography.
Admission is free.
Admission to the museum is free.
The museum is declared fully accessible to people with mobility difficulties and disabilities: the entrance has a compliant ramp, the rooms on the first and second floors can be reached by lift, and there are equipped toilets on the ground floor. Dedicated routes for specific disabilities are available by reservation.
The education service offers workshops, themed routes and courses, by reservation.
Villa Ghirlanda (tram 31)
Metro M1 to Sesto Primo Maggio FS, then bus Z225, Z227 or 727 to Piazza Costa; metro M5 to Bignami, then tram 31 towards Cinisello Balsamo, stop Villa Ghirlanda.
Free Wi-Fi: the password is available at the reception desk. Cloakroom with lockers; bulky luggage can be left at the desk. The bookshop, open during museum hours, sells books, catalogues and films produced by the museum.
On the ground floor, next to the library, is a conference room for about 80 people.
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours for groups, associations, bodies and companies must be booked at least two weeks in advance; visits and educational packages are available for schools of all levels. Education service: servizioeducativo@munaf.it, +39 02 6605 6631. |
