Gallerie d’Italia Milan
Piazza della Scala, 6, Milano, MI, 20121
Made up of three elegant historic palaces, just steps from La Scala opera house, Gallerie d’Italia is one of Milan’s most important centers of art and culture. The permanent collection has hundreds of Italian artworks from the 19th and 20th centuries, plus there are temporary exhibitions and cultural events. It is a must-see for art lovers visiting Milan.
The basics
Gallerie d’Italia showcases the art collection of Intesa Sanpaolo bank, which is so massive that it takes up three palaces, a garden, and a former vault in downtown Milan–a veritable treasure trove for art lovers and an ideal way to complement a sightseeing tour of the city’s central attractions. Visit the galleries of Palazzo Beltrami—the former headquarters of Banca Commerciale Italiana—Palazzo Anguissola Antona Traversi, Palazzo Brentani, plus the garden of Alessandro Manzoni to take in three permanent collections: Da Canova a Boccioni (the 19th-century collection), Cantiere del '900 (20th-century art), and The Caveau, a historic vault that is now open to visitors.
Things to know before you go
You must book a guided tour to enter The Caveau inside Palazzo Beltrami. Galleries for the permanent collections and temporary exhibits are suitable for wheelchairs and strollers and have accessible restrooms. The Gallerie d’Italia has a cloakroom, museum shop, restrooms, and a café inside. Visitors are allowed to take photos of the works inside the galleries without flash and for personal use only.
How to get there
The Gallerie d’Italia is spread across three connecting palaces that occupy an entire city block in central Milan, from Piazza della Scala, along Via Alessandro Manzoni, and around the corner to Via Gerolamo Morone. You can reach the complex on foot from the Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and other central attractions.
When to get there
The collections are open each week from Tuesday through Sunday and the complex has evening openings on Thursdays. To visit the Caveau, you must book a spot on the official guided tour in advance via the Gallerie website. Check the website to catch upcoming temporary exhibitions and events.
How to experience Milan’s art scene
Milan is the capital of Italian fashion and design, so it comes as no surprise that the city also has a vibrant art scene from classic museums to edgy galleries. The headliner is Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper in the convent refectory next door to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, but more masterpieces await at the Brera Gallery (Pinacoteca di Brera) and Poldi Pezzoli Museum in the city center. For modern and contemporary works, pop into GAM (Gallery of Modern Art) to see pieces by Canova and Manet, or catch a temporary exhibition at cutting-edge art spaces like Pirelli HangarBicocca and Fondazione Prada.
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