Pinacoteca di Pieve di Cento

About the museum

The Pieve di Cento picture gallery has its roots in the early 19th century, when works from the Napoleonic-era suppressions of churches and convents in the area began to form an initial civic nucleus. Over time the collection grew thanks to donations from citizens and collectors, for both old and contemporary art, a remarkable achievement for a town of just over seven thousand inhabitants.

Today the museum is housed in the restored Le Scuole complex, where it shares its spaces with the library. Across about 2,460 square metres it displays more than a thousand works from the 14th century to the present day, organised into ten collections and presented in chronological order. It is a non-state museum accredited to the Emilia-Romagna regional museum system and to the national museum system.

The route begins with 14th-century Bolognese painting and includes Scarsellino, the painting of Guercino and his school (Benedetto Zallone, Matteo Loves, il Centino), large altarpieces by Aureliano Milani and Domenico Pedrini and two paintings attributed to Elisabetta Sirani. This is followed by painting and sculpture by local artists from the 19th and 20th centuries, contemporary art with the print collection donated by Efrem Tavoni, and a collection of art glass with pieces by Lalique, Gallé and Schneider. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions.

Highlights

• Paintings from 14th-century Bologna and by Scarsellino
• Painting by Guercino and his school
• Two paintings attributed to Elisabetta Sirani
• Collection of prints and drawings donated by Efrem Tavoni
• Art glass by Lalique, Gallé and Schneider
• More than a thousand works in 10 collections on 2,460 m²

Permanent exhibitions

• Arte antica dal 1300 al 1800 – From 14th-century Bologna to Scarsellino and Guercino and his school, up to the paintings of the 18th and 19th centuries.
• Arte contemporanea: vetri d'autore – Collections of art glass, mainly French, and of prints and drawings donated by collectors.

Founded

1980

Operated by

Comune di Pieve di Cento

Visitors per year

approx. 4,170

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission to the permanent collection and to the temporary exhibitions.

Accessibility

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

The website states that all spaces of the library and the picture gallery are accessible to people with disabilities.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Family workshops at €5 per child with one accompanying adult free (for example “ABC dell’arte” for children aged 5 to 12) and a large Game of the Goose for children aged 5 to 10.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at Via Rizzoli 2 in Pieve di Cento, in the historic centre, in the Le Scuole complex.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Bistrot Convivio on the ground floor, on the Porta Bologna side; bookshop of the picture gallery.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit