Complesso di Santa Chiara
Museum complex in San Gimignano with an archaeological museum, the Spezieria (historic pharmacy) of the old Spedale and the Raffaele De Grada gallery of modern and contemporary art.
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About the museum
The complex occupies the former convent of Santa Chiara, later converted into a conservatory for girls, and the adjacent Spedale di Santa Fina, founded in 1253 and extended over the centuries. After three years of restoration it reopened in 2024 with a renewed display.
The archaeological museum, housed in the loggia, displays Etruscan, Roman and medieval finds from the San Gimignano area: on one side Etruscan and Roman documentation from the 7th to the 1st century BC, on the other the medieval craft production of glass and ceramics. In the new section the bronze statuette of the 3rd century BC known as “Hinthial. L'ombra di San Gimignano” is permanently displayed, together with material from the site of the Torraccia di Chiusi and from the Roman villa of Aiano.
The Spezieria di Santa Fina preserves pharmacy jars from the 15th to the 18th century and glass vessels from the 16th to the 18th century from the Spedale; the display recreates the workshop and laboratory of the old pharmacy. The Galleria d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea “Raffaele De Grada” is dedicated to the Milanese painter who chose San Gimignano as his adopted home, and holds works by the artist and by Niccolò Cannicci, Renato Guttuso, Sergio Vacchi, Ugo Nespolo, Marco Gastini and Carmelo Zotti, in the sections “Vedute di San Gimignano” and “Fermento locale”.
Highlights
- Etruscan bronze statuette “Hinthial” of the 3rd century BC
- Finds from the Torraccia di Chiusi and the Roman villa of Aiano
- Spezieria di Santa Fina with pharmacy jars from the 15th to the 18th century
- Galleria d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea “Raffaele De Grada” with works by Guttuso and Cannicci
- Sections “Vedute di San Gimignano” and “Fermento locale”
Permanent exhibitions
- Museo archeologico – Etruscan, Roman and medieval finds from the San Gimignano area, including the bronze statuette “Hinthial” and material from the Roman villa of Aiano.
- Spezieria di Santa Fina – Pharmacy jars and glass vessels from the Spedale, with a reconstruction of the workshop and laboratory.
- Galleria d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Raffaele De Grada – Paintings by Raffaele De Grada, Niccolò Cannicci, Renato Guttuso, Ugo Nespolo and other 20th-century artists.
- Operated by
- Comune di San Gimignano (gestione Opera Laboratori)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €8Groups (minimum 20 people), school groups, minors aged 6 to 17 and over 65s |
| Children & teens | €8free up to age 5 · Free admission from 0 to 5 years; reduced ticket for ages 6 to 17. |
| Seniors | €8Reduced rate for over 65s. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities, for their companion and for holders of the EU Disability Card. |
| Groups (20+ people) | €8 per personReduced rate for groups of at least 20 people. |
| San Gimignano Pass – standard (civic museums and Collegiata) | €15Not available for purchase from 11 January to 28 February 2027. |
| San Gimignano Pass – reduced (ages 6–17) | €12 |
| Ticket for Santa Chiara and San Lorenzo in Ponte only – standard (11 January – 28 February 2027) | €6During the closure of the Palazzo Comunale with Torre Grossa and Pinacoteca. |
| Ticket for Santa Chiara and San Lorenzo in Ponte only – reduced (11 January – 28 February 2027) | €4 |
The €10 ticket is the civic museums ticket, valid for one day also for the Palazzo Comunale with Pinacoteca and Torre Grossa and for the church of San Lorenzo in Ponte. A booking fee of €1 is added. Free admission also for residents of the Comune di San Gimignano, licensed tour guides and ICOM members. Reductions and free admission require a document confirming eligibility.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
The museum circuit offers educational routes for schools, groups and 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 |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The San Gimignano Musei circuit offers educational routes for schools, groups and families; information and bookings are available by phone on +39 0577 286300 (Monday to Friday, 08:30–17:00) or by e-mail at booking@operalaboratori.com. |
