Palazzo delle Paure, Art museum and observatory in central Lecco, Italy
Palazzo delle Paure is a four-story building at Piazza XX Settembre with neo-medieval design and a striking tower featuring triple-arched windows. The main structure houses rotating art exhibitions across multiple floors, while the third level is dedicated to alpine heritage and mountaineering history.
Built in 1905, the structure served as headquarters for customs and tax operations until 1964. After this administrative role ended, it was transformed into a public cultural space housing art and mountaineering collections.
The name comes from citizens who once feared paying taxes here, a memory that still echoes through the halls today. Now the collections celebrate local creative voices alongside important Italian artists, reflecting how the place has transformed from a place of dread into a center for appreciating art.
The building is typically open during daytime hours, giving you room to explore both the art galleries and the alpine museum at your own pace. Its central location makes it easy to reach and simple to combine with other stops around town.
The third floor holds the Lecco Alpine Observatory, which documents regional mountaineering traditions through the collections of the Italian Alpine Club. This museum reveals how the local climbing community has preserved its heritage over generations.
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