Palazzo San Francesco, Local museum in Domodossola, Italy
Palazzo San Francesco is a three-story museum in Domodossola displaying natural science exhibits, archaeological finds, and paintings from the region dating back to the 1600s. The rooms are arranged so visitors can move easily from one collection to the next.
The church of San Francesco was built at the end of the 13th century, with an adjoining convent whose three naves were divided by twelve serizzo columns with carved capitals. Four provincial councils met in the convent in the 15th and 16th centuries, and on 19 March 1381 the act of submission of the Ossolani to the Visconti was signed there. Under Napoleonic rule the church passed to the State, and the Belli family, owners from 1810 to 1879, demolished the bell tower and added a raised floor and an external double-ramp staircase. The Galletti Foundation bought it in 1879 and opened its collections in 1884; the municipality took over in 1986.
The palazzo displays religious artworks and wooden sculptures that reflect how local craftsmen worked over centuries. These pieces come mainly from painters of the Vigezzo Valley, a region known for its strong artistic traditions.
The museum is open Thursday through Sunday with seasonal hours that change between winter and summer. Guided tours are available and typically last about 50 minutes if you want deeper information.
The square in front of the facade is called Piazza della Convenzione, recalling the act of submission of the Ossolani to the Visconti signed in the convent on 19 March 1381. The name was given by the municipality to mark that event.
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