La Quadreria di Palazzo Rossi Poggi Marsili

About the museum

Palazzo Rossi Poggi Marsili was the city residence of the family of the same name. Its last descendant, Count Giovanni Francesco, left it to the Opera pia dei Poveri vergognosi (charitable institution for the “shamefaced poor”), which he had administered, and which established its seat there in 1716. The building remained the seat of the body until 2014, when it became the legal seat of the ASP Città di Bologna. The courtyard dates from the 15th century, while the current neo-Gothic appearance derives from works begun in 1909, which added the arched entrance and the spiral staircase.

The Quadreria, reopened to the public in 2016, brings together about fifty paintings from the 16th to the 18th century, coming from the three personal-care service bodies merged in 2014 into the ASP Città di Bologna. These are mainly works by Bolognese masters, arranged in the rooms by theme, period or style.

Among the most notable groups are the Sala Gandolfi, which brings together seven canvases by Ubaldo Gandolfi commissioned between 1768 and 1776, and a wooden Saint Sebastian by Baccio da Montelupo of 1498. In 2017 the Sala delle Mappe was added, with five 17th-century maps of the continents and a planisphere engraved in Bologna, and the Ruota degli Esposti (foundling wheel), which recalls the care of abandoned children.

Highlights

• Sala Gandolfi with seven canvases by Ubaldo Gandolfi
• Madonna and Child by Guercino
• Madonna and Child by Elisabetta Sirani
• Wooden Saint Sebastian by Baccio da Montelupo (1498)
• Sala delle Mappe with 17th-century maps
• Ruota degli Esposti (foundling wheel)

Permanent exhibition

• La Quadreria – collezione permanente – About fifty paintings from the 16th to the 18th century, mainly by Bolognese masters, with the Sala Gandolfi, the Sala delle Mappe and the Ruota degli Esposti.

Founded

2016

Operated by

ASP Città di Bologna

Visitors per year

approx. 2,574

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free, with the option of a voluntary donation. Guided tours, workshop activities and some additional audioguide content are paid. The museum participates in the Card Cultura circuit.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• 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

The museum is on the ground floor, with entrance from Via Marsala 7 and compliant ramps; the reception desk has a section lowered by 90 cm. Floor tactile routes, adjustable lighting and an audioguide in four languages are available for blind and partially sighted people; some audioguide contents are in Italian Sign Language (LIS), and one room has an audiovisual system with subtitles.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

Playful visits such as “Indovina il dipinto” for families with children and young people, the board game “Gioco del Soqquadro” and educational routes for primary and secondary schools. The rooms include an area for children and families, and there is an interactive touch display in the Sala delle Mappe.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Bookshop with publications on the museum and on the artistic heritage of the ASP, obtainable with a donation in support of the museum.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The rooms can be rented for seminars, conferences and concerts.

Plan your visit