Museo del Novecento

The basics

This relatively new museum opened in 2010 in Palazzo dell’Arengario, and is home to over 400 paintings, drawings, and sculptures by Italian and international artists displayed in chronological order, tracing the development of 20th-century art. In addition, the Museo del Novecento regularly hosts temporary exhibitions of contemporary art, photography, and design; and cultural events like concerts and lectures. The museum is located on Piazza del Duomo in the city center, just steps from top attractions like the soaring Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Join a Milan walking tour that includes skip-the-line tickets to the Museo del Novecento and nearby Duomo, along with visits to highlights like the Sforza Castle and the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, home to Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper.

Things to know before you go

• A visit to the museum and sights in Piazza del Duomo requires a bit of walking, so wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
• The Museo del Novecento is fully accessible to visitors with limited mobility and wheelchair users.
• The museum houses the Giacomo all’Arengario restaurant, with indoor dining rooms and an outdoor area on the loggia overlooking the Duomo.
• There is a gift shop in the museum entrance.
• Flash photography is not allowed inside the museum.

How to get there

The Museo del Novecento is in Piazza del Duomo, adjacent the Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The nearest metro stop is the Duomo stop, on both the yellow and red lines.

When to get there

The museum can be crowded at the weekend, so it’s better to visit on a weekday morning, then visit nearby sights in Piazza del Duomo in the afternoon. Please note that the museum is closed on select days (usually Mondays), so it’s best to check the opening schedule before you visit.

Highlights of the Museo del Novecento

The headliner at this museum of modern art is The Fourth Estate, a remarkable painting by Pellizza da Volvedo of striking workers on display on the ground floor. The collection begins with the avant-garde paintings from the early 1900s by Picasso, Braque, Klee, Kandinsky, and Modigliani; it continues with Futurism, represented by Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Balla, Fortunato Depero, Gino Severini, Carlo Carrà, and Ardengo Soffici. The galleries move through abstract artists like Giorgio de Chirico before showcasing the work of Alberto Burri and Art Informel. The museum’s top floor is devoted to Lucio Fontana, including Ceiling, created for the dining room of the Hotel del Golfo on the Island of Elba, and Neon.