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Pinacoteca di Brera: A Milanese Art Sanctuary

Explore centuries of Italian art at Milan's Pinacoteca di Brera, home to masterpieces by Raphael, Caravaggio, and more.

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The Pinacoteca di Brera, located in Milan's Brera district, is a leading Italian art museum housing a vast collection of Italian paintings from the 13th to the 20th century. Housed in the Palazzo Brera, it shares space with other cultural institutions, offering visitors a rich experience of art and history.

A brief summary to Pinacoteca di Brera

  • Tuesday 8:30 am-6 pm
  • Wednesday 8:30 am-6 pm
  • Thursday 8:30 am-6 pm
  • Friday 8:30 am-6 pm
  • Saturday 8:30 am-6 pm
  • Sunday 8:30 am-6 pm

Local tips

  • Visit on the first Sunday of the month for free admission, but book in advance.
  • Take the M2 metro line to Lanza, the M3 line to Montenapoleone, or the M1 line to Cairoli.
  • Allow at least 1.5 to 2 hours to fully appreciate the collection.
  • Check out the Orto Botanico di Brera, a hidden botanical garden within the Palazzo Brera.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    From the Teatro alla Scala, walk north along Via Alessandro Manzoni, then turn left onto Via Giuseppe Verdi. Continue onto Via Brera; the Pinacoteca will be on your right. The walk is approximately 10 minutes. No costs involved.

  • Public Transport

    Take the M2 (green line) to Lanza station. From Lanza, walk along Via Pontaccio, turn right onto Via Brera; the Pinacoteca will be on your left. Alternatively, take tram lines 1, 2, 12, or 14 to the Via Cusani stop. From there, walk along Via Cusani, turn right onto Via Broletto, then turn left onto Via Brera. A single metro/tram ticket costs €2.

  • Taxi/Ride-share

    From Milano Centrale train station, a taxi or ride-share to the Pinacoteca di Brera will take approximately 15-20 minutes, depending on traffic. The estimated cost is €15-€25. Note that Brera is within the 'Zona Traffico Limitato' (ZTL), so vehicle access is restricted during certain hours.

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Discover more about Pinacoteca di Brera

The Pinacoteca di Brera is one of Milan's most important cultural institutions, located in the vibrant Brera district. The art gallery is housed within the Palazzo Brera, a historic building that also hosts the Brera Library, an Astronomical Observatory, the Botanical Gardens, the Lombard Institute of Science and Art, and the Academy of Fine Arts. The Pinacoteca's collection began in the late 18th century when the Habsburg family, then rulers of Milan, started collecting art. The museum was officially opened to the public in 1809, under French rule, with the aim of exhibiting significant paintings from territories conquered by the French army. Unlike other museums that grew from private collections, the Pinacoteca di Brera was born out of political and state collections. The collection comprises chiefly religious works and large altarpieces. Today, the Pinacoteca di Brera boasts a collection of over 500 works of art, showcasing Italian art from the 14th to the 20th century. Masterpieces by artists such as Raphael, Caravaggio, Tintoretto, and Andrea Mantegna are among the highlights. The museum's 38 halls guide visitors on a chronological journey through Italian art history, with paintings grouped by artistic movement. Some of the must-see paintings include Raphael's "The Marriage of the Virgin", Caravaggio's "Supper at Emmaus", and Andrea Mantegna's "Lamentation over the Dead Christ". The Pinacoteca also features works by Northern European artists such as Rembrandt and Rubens.

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