Museo Casa Rusca
The municipal museum in an 18th-century mansion in Locarno shows changing exhibitions of contemporary and modern art.
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About the museum
Casa Rusca is a typical 18th-century grand town house on Piazza Sant'Antonio in Locarno. Behind the façade with its elegant balcony and tall windows lies a quiet, regular courtyard enclosed by loggias on three levels. After a careful, largely conservative restoration in the 1980s, the building became the municipal Pinacoteca, today's Museo Casa Rusca, and opened in 1987.
Since then the house has regularly shown temporary exhibitions by international and Swiss artists; between exhibitions it is closed to the public. The museum also includes the underground exhibition space “La Sinopia”, which hosts exhibitions of various kinds. The courtyard is connected to the garden and is included in the tour as an open-air exhibition area; on the upper floors the route leads through the rooms along the loggias.
The art collection of the city of Locarno, with around 4,500 works the largest in the canton, has been mostly on display in the Museo Casorella since 2019. It includes the donation of Jean and Marguerite Arp, the estate of Nesto Jacometti and the estate of Filippo Franzoni. Casa Rusca, Casorella and the Castello Visconteo together form the Municipal Museums of Locarno, with a shared combined ticket and event space rental.
Highlights
- Changing exhibitions of modern and contemporary art
- 18th-century mansion with courtyard, loggias and garden
- Basement space “La Sinopia”
- Combined ticket with Museo Casorella and Castello Visconteo
- Educational programmes for schools and families
- Founded
- 1987
- Operated by
- Città di Locarno – Servizi culturali, Musei civici
Admission & discounts
| Adults | CHF 15 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | CHF 10Senior citizens (AHV)/disabled (IV), groups of 10 or more |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · School classes and young people up to 18 years have free admission. |
| Seniors | CHF 10AHV (Swiss old-age pension) |
| Visitors with disabilities | CHF 10IV (Swiss disability insurance) |
| Students & apprentices | CHF 8Students aged 18 and over with ID |
| Groups (10+ people) | CHF 10 per personGroups of 10 or more; guided tours for groups on request with one week's notice (plus admission of CHF 10 per person). |
| Combined ticket Casa Rusca + Museo Casorella + Castello Visconteo (adults) | CHF 20AHV/IV and groups CHF 14, students aged 18 and over CHF 12 |
Free admission with the Raiffeisen card, Museum Pass, ICOM/AMS, VKKS, Visarte and for members of the Amici di Casa Rusca association. Reduced admission with the Locarno residents' card, the my Ascona-Locarno app, the Ticino Ticket, the Cultural Pass Ascona-Locarno, the Pedibus Ticino and the Tipsweek pass; discounts cannot be combined.
Accessibility
- Partially 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 museum spans four floors; the ground floor and the first and second floors are accessible by lift and mobile ramp, while the “La Sinopia” space in the basement is not accessible. The museum asks for advance notice by telephone (at least 4 days beforehand) at +41 91 756 31 85 or servizi.culturali@locarno.ch.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 18 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
The museum offers educational programmes for children and young people from primary school to upper secondary level, as well as birthday offers from the Municipal Museums; young people up to 18 have free admission.
Getting there & parking
By car
Paid parking
Centro Castello car park, Via Simen 8: open 24 hours, 356 spaces, height limit 2.00 m, maximum daily rate CHF 19.90; spaces cannot be reserved.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
Bookshop with catalogues and museum items (also online).
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
The garden and courtyard of Casa Rusca can be rented (outside opening hours, Tuesday to Sunday) together with the spaces of the other Municipal Museums of Locarno; no in-house catering service. Guided tours and team-building activities are available on request; enquiries via the form or at +41 91 756 31 85.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours for groups are possible with registration at least one week in advance (mediazione.musei@locarno.ch); they last 60 minutes and cost CHF 180 (Italian) or CHF 210 (German, French, English), plus the reduced admission of CHF 10 per person, for up to 25 adults. For schools there are age-appropriate educational programmes related to the current exhibitions. |
