Signed in as
Civic museum in the former convent of Santa Chiara, with an archaeological section, sculptures by Cosimo Carlucci, Salento figurative art and a virtual reality room.
From December 12, 2025
First chapter of the Lecce Contemporanea Mediterranea project, with three solo exhibitions: painting by Mathelda Balatresi, black-and-white photography by Stefano De Luigi and visual research by Fathi Hassan. The landscape is read as a cultural and historical outcome.
The convent of Santa Chiara probably dates from around 1430 and for over four centuries was home to the Poor Clares, beside the church of the same name. Two fires destroyed almost all of the ancient documentation; between the 16th and 17th centuries the complex was enlarged thanks to donations and restorations promoted by the humanist Scipione Ammirato. After the suppressions, the last nuns left the building in 1866; it was assigned to public offices and underwent alterations that changed its original layout.
After consolidation work begun in 2003, the complex was acquired by the Comune di Lecce, restored and opened as a cultural venue. The MUST, Museo Storico della Città di Lecce, was established in 2015 in the old town, overlooking the ruins of the Roman theatre uncovered by excavations in 1929.
On the ground floor, contemporary art exhibitions alternate with the Off Gallery for emerging artists and a multimedia room with 3D viewers for exploring the church and civic monuments of Lecce. The first floor houses the permanent displays: the collection of sculptures by Cosimo Carlucci, figurative works from Terra d’Otranto between the 19th and 20th centuries, and the archaeological section “Il Leccio e la Lupa”, devoted to the Messapian, Roman and medieval periods.
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €7young people aged 6 to 26, over 65s, organised groups of at least 10 people, municipal employees, police and armed forces, and holders of partner agreements |
| Children & teens | €7free up to age 5 · Free admission under 6s; reduced admission for ages 6 to 26. |
| Seniors | €7Reduced admission for over 65s. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities (including severely disabled persons) and their companions. |
| Students & apprentices | –Reduced admission for young people aged 6 to 26. |
| Groups (10+ people) | €7 per personReduced ticket for organised groups of at least 10 people. |
Reductions apply to temporary and permanent exhibitions. Admission is also free for tour guides and interpreters with a valid licence and for registered journalists. Admission to the Off Gallery exhibition is free. Tickets can be bought at the ticket office or online.
The museum states that it is free of architectural and sensory barriers. It offers tactile maps and panels, including Braille, audio and video content in Italian, English, French and Italian Sign Language (LIS) via QR code and NFC, tactile reproductions of paintings with audio description and, by reservation, touch tours with protective gloves. The conference room has an induction loop for people with hearing impairment.
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
For primary and secondary schools there are ceramics workshops, Roman games and routes linking the museum and the atelier.
Castello
Buses M1, R6 or R7, stop “Castello”.
Paid parking
Pay-and-display car parks are located near the ZTL (limited traffic zone).
The museum is in the historic centre, within the ZTL.
Get directionsCafé and bookshop with tables in one of the cloisters.
Conference room with audio-visual equipment on the first floor.
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Touch tours by reservation. Guided tours and workshops are available for schools (ages 6–14); booking is required (tel. 0832 682100, servizieducativi@mustlecce.it). |
