Pinacoteca comunale di Faenza
Faenza’s oldest museum: about a thousand years of art from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, with Donatello (attr.), Palmezzano, Baccarini and the Bianchedi Bettoli collection.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Pinacoteca comunale is the oldest museum institution in Faenza and one of the oldest in Emilia-Romagna. It was founded in 1797, when the municipality acquired the art collection of Giuseppe Zauli; paintings from convents and churches suppressed in the Napoleonic period were soon added to this nucleus. The museum opened to the public in 1879 in the former Jesuit convent, today the Palazzo degli Studi.
The collections grew with deposits from the Congregazione di carità and with a systematic campaign of purchases led by the first director, Federico Argnani. After a major renovation, the gallery reopened in December 2021 with a new layout.
The chronological route begins with the Liberty sculpture Cassandra by Ercole Drei and continues with the Middle Ages and the 14th century (Giovanni da Rimini, the Master of the Franciscan Crucifixes), the Renaissance (a wooden Saint Jerome attributed to Donatello, Biagio d’Antonio, Marco Palmezzano with the Pala delle Micheline, Benedetto da Maiano) and the wedding chests of Jacopo da Faenza. There follow the altarpieces by Armenini and Fenzoni, Felice Giani and the 20th-century art of Faenza with Domenico Baccarini and the Cenacolo baccariniano, up to the Bianchedi Bettoli Vallunga collection with works by De Chirico, Morandi, Carrà, Sironi and Casorati.
Highlights
- Wooden Saint Jerome attributed to Donatello
- Pala delle Micheline by Marco Palmezzano
- Wedding chests by Jacopo da Faenza
- Works by Domenico Baccarini and the Cenacolo baccariniano
- Bianchedi Bettoli Vallunga collection with De Chirico, Morandi, Carrà, Sironi and Casorati
Permanent exhibition
- Percorso permanente della Pinacoteca – From works of the 13th and 14th centuries to the Renaissance, to 20th-century art from Faenza and the Bianchedi Bettoli Vallunga collection.
- Founded
- 1797
- Operated by
- Comune di Faenza
- Visitors per year
- approx. 4,894
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3residents of Faenza, young people aged 14 to 25, over 65s, families (1–2 adults with up to 5 children), groups of at least 15 people and affiliated organisations |
| Children & teens | €3free up to age 13 · Free admission for under-14s; from the age of 14 a reduced ticket applies. |
| Seniors | €3Over 65s. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities and one companion. |
| Students & apprentices | €3Young people aged 14 to 25; free for some university and academy students. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €3 per personGroups of at least 15 people. |
| Families | €3Families with 1–2 adults and up to 5 children. |
| Special reduced rate for school groups and special agreements | €2 |
| Guided tour with optional participation (per person, in addition to admission) | €3 |
| Educational trail for children | €5One accompanying adult per participant is free; others €3. |
| Guided tour for groups of up to 15 people (per group, in addition to admission) | €50€70 for groups of 15 to 30 people. |
Free admission also for teachers accompanying school groups, some teachers, licensed tourist guides, journalists registered with the professional register and ICOM members; a valid document is required for the reductions.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- 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
Audio guides in Italian, English and Spanish, also for blind and deaf visitors, downloadable on iOS and Android; videos in Italian Sign Language (LIS). The website refers to an accessibility statement.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 13 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | €3 · Families with 1–2 adults and up to 5 children. |
- Family tours & workshops
Educational trails for children at €5 per participant, with one accompanying adult free; reduction for families.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (IT, EN, ES) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours with optional participation and group tours by reservation; for schools, visits, workshops and routes are offered for all school levels (educational contact: Cristina Pirazzoli, +39 0546 680 251). Ticket office and bookings also via WhatsApp. |
