Convento di San Francesco – Museo delle storie di Bergamo

About the museum

The Convent of San Francesco, built between the late 13th and early 16th centuries, is a fine example of medieval monastic architecture built around its cloisters. Over the centuries it has had many uses: it housed Franciscan friars in the Middle Ages, prisoners and prison guards in the Napoleonic and Austrian periods, and students and teachers from the 1930s onward. Today the Chiostro delle Arche, the Chiostro del Pozzo and the chapter hall preserve fresco cycles painted between the 14th and 17th centuries, while the panoramic terrace offers a view over the junction of the Seriana and Brembana valleys.

The complex is home to the Museo delle storie di Bergamo, a network of seven sites in the city promoted by the Fondazione Bergamo nella storia, and hosts two permanent routes. Bergamo 900, opened in November 2021, tells the story of the 20th century starting from the local area, through four sections (events, places, life and voices), with immersive videos, a large interactive map, audiovisual sources, photographs and objects.

The Sestini Museum of Photography, opened in November 2018 in the west wing of the convent, traces the history of photography with multimedia installations, the spread of photographic studios in the Bergamo area and a gallery of vintage cameras. It is also the home of the Archivio fotografico Sestini, with more than a million photographs.

Highlights

• 14th-century cloisters with fresco cycles from the 14th to the 17th century
• Panoramic terrace over the junction of the Brembana and Seriana valleys
• Bergamo 900: the 20th century told through the local area, with an interactive map
• Sestini Museum of Photography with vintage cameras and an archive of more than a million photographs
• Objects of the 20th century include a Bianchi bicycle, a toy kitchen and a Moplen machine

Permanent exhibitions

• Bergamo 900 – The 20th century told through the local area, with immersive videos, a large interactive map and objects from the last century.
• Museo della fotografia Sestini – The history of photography with multimedia installations and vintage cameras, in the headquarters of the Sestini photographic archive.

Operated by

Fondazione Bergamo nella storia

Visitors per year

approx. 155,408

Admission & discounts

The ticket covers the Convent of San Francesco, Bergamo 900, the Sestini Museum of Photography and temporary exhibitions. Also free for Amici del Museo storico di Bergamo, ICOM members, journalists, licensed guides and holders of the Abbonamento Musei Lombardia. There is an “All in one” ticket for the entire Museo delle storie di Bergamo network.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The convent is listed as accessible, but the lower cloister has no solutions for removing architectural barriers. Small dogs are admitted only in carriers; guide dogs are always admitted.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The “Famiglie in Museo” series includes games, workshops and guided tours, a summer camp and activities for schools; Bergamo 900 is also designed for younger visitors.

Getting there & parking

The convent is in Città Alta, just beyond Piazza Mercato del Fieno, a short walk from Piazza Vecchia.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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