Museo Castello San Materno
Restored castello in Ascona housing the art collection of the Kurt and Barbara Alten Foundation: German painting from late Romanticism to Expressionism.
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About the museum
The oldest surviving part of Castello San Materno is a Lombard watchtower from the 6th to 8th century, which is now partly built into the apse of the Romanesque church of San Materno. In the 12th century the complex belonged to the De Castelletto family; in the early 16th century it was conquered by the Swiss Confederates and then abandoned, like many Ticino castles. In the second half of the 19th century, Count Henry de Loppinot had the building restored and rebuilt.
In 1919 the Bachrach couple acquired the property. Charlotte Bara, the family’s daughter and a dancer, lived here until her death in 1986; the architect Carl Weidemeyer built the Teatro San Materno opposite for her. With its magnolias, palms and roses, the park is regarded as a small tropical botanical garden. In 1987 the municipality of Ascona bought the castello.
Following an agreement between the municipality and the Kurt and Barbara Alten Foundation for Culture, it was extensively restored and opened as a museum in 2014. It permanently displays the Alten family collection with more than 60 works by artists from the German-speaking world, from the late 19th century to the period after the First World War, including Liebermann, Corinth, the Worpswede painters, and artists of “Die Brücke” and “Der Blaue Reiter”.
Highlights
- Alten Collection with more than 60 works by German artists from around 1880 to the 1920s
- Worpswede painters such as Otto Modersohn and Paula Modersohn-Becker
- Expressionists of “Die Brücke” and “Der Blaue Reiter” (Kirchner, Heckel, Nolde, Jawlensky, Macke)
- Lombard watchtower from the 6th to 8th century within the masonry
- Historic rooms and park of the dancer Charlotte Bara
- Founded
- 2014
- Operated by
- Gemeinde Ascona (Sammlung der Stiftung für Kultur Kurt und Barbara Alten)
- Director
- Mara Folini
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | CHF 7AHV pensioners, students, groups of 15 or more |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Young people up to 18 years of age have free admission. |
| Seniors | CHF 7AHV pensioners |
| Students & apprentices | CHF 7 |
| Groups (15+ people) | CHF 7 per personGroups of 15 or more. Tours for groups of up to 20 people by reservation only: CHF 150 plus the reduced admission fee per participant. |
| Combined ticket Museo Comunale d’Arte Moderna and Museo Castello San Materno (valid for 7 days) | CHF 16Reduced CHF 11.20 |
Payment is also possible in euros and by credit or debit card.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Ascona San Materno
Bus no. 1 from Locarno towards Losone Sottochiesa to Ascona Via Medere; from Losone, bus no. 1 towards Gordola Centro Professionale to Ascona San Materno.
By car
Parking available
Public car park on Via Buonamano, free for the first two hours.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
Museum shop; items can also be ordered by phone or email (museo@ascona.ch).
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours for groups of up to 20 people by reservation only. |
