Pinacoteca Ambrosiana

About the museum

The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana was founded in April 1618 by Cardinal Federico Borromeo as the natural complement of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, which he had opened to the public in 1609. The aim was to create a cultural hub bringing together the various fields of knowledge and the visual arts: the cardinal donated his collection of paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints from various schools, which in his intention was to serve the education and training of taste. It is considered the oldest museum in Milan and is part of the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana, together with the Cripta di San Sepolcro.

The route unfolds over three floors and 24 rooms. The first rooms preserve the core of Federico Borromeo's collection, with Renaissance masterpieces and a rich collection of Flemish paintings; here too is Raphael's large preparatory cartoon for the School of Athens, restored over more than four years and presented in a new display in 2019. On the ground floor are the Aula Leonardi, with Leonardo da Vinci's Portrait of a Musician, and the Sala Federiciana, the old 17th-century reading room where some drawings from the Codice Atlantico are displayed on rotation.

The collections also include artists of the Lombard 17th century, of the 18th and 19th centuries, from Appiani to Hayez, as well as curiosities such as a lock of hair attributed to Lucrezia Borgia, the astrolabes of the Settala collection and the gloves worn by Napoleon at Waterloo.

Highlights

• Portrait of a Musician by Leonardo da Vinci and the Codice Atlantico in the Sala Federiciana
• Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio
• Raphael's preparatory cartoon for the School of Athens
• Madonna del Padiglione by Botticelli and Adoration of the Magi by Titian
• Flemish paintings by Jan Brueghel the Elder in Cardinal Borromeo's collection
• Cripta di San Sepolcro (combined ticket)

Permanent exhibition

• Percorso permanente della Pinacoteca Ambrosiana – Twenty-four rooms on three floors with the collection of Cardinal Federico Borromeo, paintings from the Renaissance to the early 20th century, the Aula Leonardi and the Sala Federiciana with the Codice Atlantico.

Founded

1618

Operated by

Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana

Director

Marco Navoni

Admission & discounts

Online booking includes an advance sales fee of €1.50 per ticket. Free admission also for licensed guides, accompanying teachers (one for every ten pupils), ICOM members, holders of the Abbonamento Musei Lombardia and members of the law enforcement agencies; free tickets cannot be booked. Numerous agreements at €15 (for example MilanoCard, Touring Club and FAI members).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• 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

Because of the historic structure of the building the route is only partially accessible: lifts and platform lifts allow visiting the ground floor and first floor (rooms 1 to 7, the Sala di Dante and del Bambaia, Aula Leonardi, Peristyle and Sala Federiciana); staff assist with the use of the platforms. An assisted-push wheelchair is available, to be requested at least 48 hours in advance at contatti@ambrosiana.it. The Cripta di San Sepolcro is not accessible to people with mobility difficulties. Guide dogs and therapeutic support animals with a medical prescription are admitted.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The programme includes family visits such as “Caccia al dettaglio” and workshops for primary and lower secondary schools. Pushchairs can be left at the ticket office; as they cannot be carried up and down the stairs, with a pushchair only the ground floor and first floor (rooms 1 to 7) can be visited.

Getting there & parking

The entrance to the Pinacoteca is at Piazza Pio XI 2; the entrance to the Cripta di San Sepolcro is from Piazza San Sepolcro, corner of Via dell'Ambrosiana.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

The bookshop is next to the Sala Federiciana, at the end of the route. Backpacks, large bags, suitcases and helmets can be left free of charge at the cloakroom at the entrance. Food and drink may not be consumed in any area of the museum.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

The spaces can host conferences, seminars, presentations, social events, photo shoots, video recordings and temporary exhibitions; information and site visits: eventi@ambrosiana.it.

Plan your visit