Museums Building (Palazzo dei Musei)

The Palazzo dei Musei occupies the premises of the former Franciscan monastery, which was founded on the site of the medieval Imperial Palace. The complex was completely renovated in the first half of the 18th century by Giovanni Maria Ferraroni.

The collections housed here cover a wide range of disciplines and historical periods: they range from Lazzaro Spallanzani’s naturalistic collections to protohistoric discoveries, medieval mosaics, and the gallery of paintings, which contains works from the 14th to the 20th century. Of particular note is the recent layout by Italo Rota, who has respected the 19th-century layout by adding contemporary elements to engage the visitor’s attention.