Museo di Salò, History museum in Salò, Italy.
Museo di Salò occupies the former monastery complex of Santa Giustina, not a church, with rooms arranged around a cloister used in summer for events and concerts. Its sections cover Roman-era Salò through the 20th century, including the archaeological collection of Anton Maria Mucchi, the Biondo double bass made by Gasparo da Salò around 1590, and the Civica Raccolta del Disegno with over 800 drawings.
The museum occupies the former monastery of Santa Giustina. From the 14th century Salò led the Magnifica Patria, a confederation of lake communes, and from the late Middle Ages until 1797 it was the seat of Venice's Provveditore. A section opened in June 2023 covers the 600 days of the Italian Social Republic, 1943–1945.
The museum keeps the Biondo double bass, made by Gasparo da Salò around 1590 and one of the few original Gasparo basses still in existence. It also holds the Coppa del Liutaio, a cup Renato Brozzi made in 1924 for Gabriele d'Annunzio as a trophy for the Agonali del Remo rowing race.
The museum sits right by the lake and is easy to reach by walking through town. Opening hours vary by season, so it helps to check current information before you go.
The Pio Bettoni Meteoseismic Observatory was based in this building from 1877, and its instruments are displayed; its first director helped publicise Lake Garda's mild climate. The basement holds the Museo Storico del Nastro Azzurro, with relics and documents from Italian and Garda-area wars, opened as a section in June 2023 alongside the RSI rooms.
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