Museo di San Colombano, Diocesan museum in Bobbio Abbey, Italy.
The Museo di San Colombano is a diocesan and art museum housed within the ancient Bobbio Abbey complex, displaying artworks and archaeological finds spanning four centuries. The collection includes religious objects, manuscripts, and artistic pieces that document the long history of this spiritual site.
The abbey itself was founded in the 7th century by Irish monk Columban and quickly became an important center for religious scholarship and craftsmanship across Europe. The museum was formally established in 1963 to preserve the valuable collections and artworks that had accumulated over the centuries.
The museum's name honors Saint Columban, the Irish monk who founded the abbey in the 7th century and shaped the region's spiritual life. Through the displayed objects, one can sense how religious devotion and craftsmanship defined the community here.
Plan your visit for the weekend when the museum is open to visitors and you have adequate time to explore the various collections at a comfortable pace. The exhibition spaces are located within the abbey complex itself, so you can experience the architectural setting of the location as you move between the display areas.
A notable collection holds eight paintings by Italian artist Giorgio De Chirico, with some works donated by other artists as thanks for medical care provided by the community. This unusual story reveals how the site maintained connections with the local artistic world across generations.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
