Museo Elisarion

About the museum

The Estonian painter and poet Elisàr von Kupffer and the philosopher Eduard von Mayer founded Klarism in 1900, a movement that campaigned against patriarchal ideas and for an idealized, gender-inclusive view of humanity. After years in Florence, they settled in Muralto in 1915 and in 1925 acquired a plot on Via Simen in Minusio. There they built the Sanctuarium Artis Elisarion, a neoclassical building inaugurated in 1927 and intended as a temple of art. In 1939 a round hall was added for the monumental circular painting "Klarwelt der Seligen".

After the founders' deaths, the property passed together with their artistic estate to the municipality of Minusio. It converted the house and reopened it in 1981 as the Centro culturale e Museo Elisarion. The circular painting later moved to Monte Verità, where it can be seen in the museum complex after restoration; the municipality of Minusio remains its owner.

After more than two years of construction, the municipality inaugurated the renovated Centro Elisarion on September 24, 2023. The architecture firm Inches Geleta Architetti adapted the protected building for fire safety and accessibility, added a lift and created a new visitor entrance with a large foyer on the lower ground floor. Today the building hosts concerts, lectures and exhibitions; the archive museum on von Kupffer and von Mayer is open by appointment.

Highlights

• Neoclassical sanctuary from 1927
• Archive museum on Elisàr von Kupffer and Eduard von Mayer
• Birthplace of Klarism and its circular painting "Klarwelt der Seligen"
• Renovated in 2023 with a lift and a new foyer

Permanent exhibition

• Museums-Archiv Elisàr von Kupffer und Eduard von Mayer – Archive room on the life and work of the two founders of Klarism, with a small library of the movement's writings.

Founded

1981

Operated by

Gemeinde Minusio

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• 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 2023 renovation adapted the building to the needs of people with disabilities and added a lift.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

About 10 minutes on foot from Locarno station.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The municipality rents out its halls under a room regulation (valid since September 16, 2023).

Plan your visit