Giovio Musaeum

The Giovio Musaeum is a portrait museum in Como that holds over 400 historical portraits of emperors, popes, artists, and writers spread across several exhibition rooms. The works display personalities from different eras and show a full gallery of people who shaped history and culture.

Paolo Giovio founded this institution between 1537 and 1543, creating one of the earliest publicly accessible museums of its time. This effort was groundbreaking for the era and set a standard for preserving and presenting historical knowledge.

The collection displays portraits of important figures such as Charles V, Francis I of France, Dante, Petrarch, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo that visitors can discover while walking through the rooms. These works let you see the great minds of the Renaissance and antiquity face to face and understand their historical connections.

The museum is located in the center of Como and is relatively easy to reach, with clear signs leading to the entrance. It is wise to allow enough time for a pleasant walk through the rooms and to read the descriptions of individual portraits.

Each portrait in the collection includes an Elogia, a detailed biography that provides context about the life and achievements of the depicted person. These written companions make the collection more than just a gallery show and allow visitors to learn deeper stories about the people.

Location: Como

Inception: 1537

GPS coordinates: 45.81532,9.06681

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:04