Pinacoteca di Brera
Milan
The Pinacoteca di Brera is one of the largest art collections in Italy, housed in a 17th-century palace in the heart of Milan's artists' quarter. Renaissance masterpieces shine in its rooms. Follow the treasure map among Raphael, Caravaggio and the great masters.
The history of the Pinacoteca di Brera
The gallery was born in the Napoleonic era, officially founded in 1809 inside Palazzo di Brera, which had housed the Academy of Fine Arts since 1776. The collection was largely formed with works from suppressed churches and convents, gathered to offer models to art students. Over time it became a true national museum, open to the public.
What to see
Among the masterpieces stand out Raphael's "Marriage of the Virgin", Andrea Mantegna's "Dead Christ" with its daring foreshortening, Caravaggio's "Supper at Emmaus" and Piero della Francesca's "Brera Altarpiece". The collection includes works by Bellini, Tintoretto, Veronese and 19th-century Italian painters such as Francesco Hayez, author of the famous "The Kiss".
Curiosities and legends
In the palace courtyard stands a bronze statue of Napoleon Bonaparte portrayed as Mars the Peacemaker, by Antonio Canova. The surrounding district, Brera, has always been linked to artists and is still one of the most characterful in Milan, with its historic Botanical Garden and the renowned Biblioteca Braidense.
Visiting the Pinacoteca di Brera
The museum is easy to reach from the centre and requires an entrance ticket. The rooms follow a chronological and geographical route that takes you through centuries of Italian painting. You can combine the visit with a stroll through the district of the same name, among art galleries, historic cafés and ateliers.
