Pinacoteca civica of Varallo

The Pinacoteca Civica is located in the Palazzo dei Musei and displays paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts from the region across multiple levels. The collection spans from medieval times to the 19th century and documents the artistic development of the Valsesia area.

The museum was created in 1885 from an art exhibition celebrating the 400th anniversary of Gaudenzio Ferrari's birth in northern Italy. This event laid the foundation for what would become a permanent collection.

The collection shows works from different periods of the region and provides insight into the artistic development of the Valsesia area. The medieval sculptures and frescoes in particular illustrate how artistic taste changed over the centuries.

The museum is organized in numbered rooms with medieval art starting on the first floor and works from the 19th century on the upper levels. The layout is easy to follow and a comfortable visit takes about two to three hours.

The museum holds over 1,300 drawings spanning from the 16th to the 20th century that show the handwork and ideas of different periods. Particularly noteworthy is a collection of 190 pieces of majolica from the Franchi Collection, representing some of the finest ceramic craftsmanship from the region.

Location: Varallo Sesia

Part of: palace of museums of Varallo

Address: via Pio Franzani 2

Website: http://pinacotecadivarallo.it

GPS coordinates: 45.81656,8.25334

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:22