Pinacoteca di Brera

About the museum

The Pinacoteca di Brera was officially established in 1809, although a first, mixed collection of works had already existed since 1776 alongside the Accademia di Belle Arti founded by Maria Theresa of Austria. The initial core served as a collection of model works for the training of students.

When Milan became the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, at Napoleon’s wish the collection was transformed into a museum intended to display the most important paintings from the territories conquered by the French armies. Unlike other great Italian museums, such as the Uffizi, Brera therefore does not originate from the private collecting of princes and aristocrats, but from political and state collecting.

From the beginning of the 19th century, also following the suppression of many religious orders, paintings requisitioned from Lombard churches and convents flowed into it, together with works of the same origin taken from the other departments of the Kingdom of Italy. This origin explains the prevalence of sacred paintings, often of large format, which gives the museum its particular character, only partly changed by later acquisitions. Today the Pinacoteca is part of the Grande Brera project, together with Palazzo Citterio and the Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense.

Highlights

• Mantegna’s Cristo morto (Dead Christ)
• Raphael’s Sposalizio della Vergine (Marriage of the Virgin)
• Caravaggio’s Cena in Emmaus (Supper at Emmaus)
• Piero della Francesca’s Pala Montefeltro
• Hayez’s Il bacio (The Kiss)
• Tintoretto’s Ritrovamento del corpo di san Marco (Finding of the Body of Saint Mark)

Permanent exhibition

• Collezione permanente della Pinacoteca di Brera – Paintings from the 13th to the 19th century, with a strong presence of Lombard, Venetian and central Italian sacred painting, and masterpieces such as Raphael’s Sposalizio della Vergine and Mantegna’s Cristo morto.

Founded

1809

Operated by

Ministero della Cultura (museo statale autonomo)

Director

James M. Bradburne

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every first Sunday of the month, with mandatory booking, and on occasions of events and special openings of the Ministero della Cultura.

The La Grande Brera ticket (standard €20, reduced €4 for ages 18–25) gives access to the Pinacoteca di Brera on the chosen date and time, and to Palazzo Citterio. It is valid on the day and for the following 6 days and covers the permanent collections of both museums. It can be bought on Brera Booking, at the Pinacoteca ticket office and through the call centre. Free admission also for licensed guides and interpreters, registered journalists, employees of the Ministero della Cultura, and teachers of Italian state and state-recognised schools.

Accessibility

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

The accessible entrance, served by a lift, is at Via Fiori Oscuri 2 (the Pinacoteca reception), where a reserved car park is available in the courtyard; two electric wheelchairs can be used at the ticket office. Offers include tactile reliefs in resin, the DescriVedendo programme with descriptions for visually impaired people, an audio-video guide in Italian Sign Language (LIS) on ten masterpieces, and the “Museo per tutti” guide with routes for people with intellectual disabilities.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

The museum offers guided tours for children and families, captions “for grown-ups and little ones”, routes such as “Domino degli animali”, drawing benches with paper and pencils in the rooms, a drawing kit and the Piera suitcase for play. Free admission under 18.

Getting there & parking

BikeMi station no. 57 – Brera. From Stazione Centrale take the M2 or M3; from Garibaldi and Cadorna, the M2; from Malpensa, the Malpensa Express to Cadorna and then the M2. Note the ZTL for those arriving by car.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Caffè Fernanda for a break or lunch, and Bottega Brera for souvenirs and books.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Spaces available: Cortile d’Onore, Atrio dei Gesuiti, Loggiato, Sala Aldo Bassetti and the Pinacoteca itself, for private visits, conferences, dinners, cocktails, fashion shows and installations; requests by email to the Events Office.

Plan your visit