Ever since 1985, the Medieval Civic Museum (Museo Civico Medievale) has been located in Palazzo Ghisilardi, in the heart of Bologna and contributes to illustrating its history thanks to its precious collections.
The most significant part of the museum is made up mainly of the numerous testimonies of Medieval Bologna starting with the ancient early-Medieval 7th-9th century artefacts. Another important section is dedicated to Renaissance and Baroque bronze sculptures, including the famous model of Nettuno by Giambologna, The Saint Michael the Archangel who lands the demon of Alessandro Algardi and the Bust of Gregory XV Ludovisi by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The collection is completed by a rich collection of weapons, ivory and glass and a section dedicated to ancient illuminated manuscripts.
Finally, it is worth mentioning the large statue of Boniface VIII in gilded copper slabs, made in 1301 in memory of the Pope’s commitment to put an end to the war between Bologna and Ferrara.
Map
Museo Civico Medievale
Via Manzoni, 4 - 40121
Telephone: +39 0512193916
Site/minisite/other: https://www.museibologna.it/medievale/
Entrance
| Full price | € 6,00 |
| Reduced | € 3,00 / € 2,00 |
| Free | Disabled persons with companion |
| Free | Bologna Welcome Card |
| Free | Card Cultura |
Interests
- Art & Culture
Details
Accessibility
Motor disability or difficulty of movement
The rooms in the museum aren’t very large, but moving inside them is easy. Please note that in order to reach room 3 you need to climb a 14 cm high step without a handrail or any other aids. In some rooms the display cases where artworks are exhibited are slightly too high, but they’re all well lit. Museum labels are sometimes too high for visitors in wheelchairs and written in letters and fonts that are too small. The light is good and uniformly distributed.
Since this museum has a complex structure, you are advised to carefully read the detailed descriptive file.
Hearing disability
The museum may be difficult to visit because the rooms are located on three different floors. The rooms are clearly marked and descriptive sheets and the brochure available at the entrance help visitors to easily find rooms and artworks. Some panels and explanatory sheets are clear, even if the texts require good linguistic comprehension ability. Toilets can be reached using the lift and are clearly marked. The signs in the lift use icons readable by the disabled. Neither the toilets nor the lift are equipped with emergency visual notification devices.
Visual disability
Most of the artworks are exhibited in display cases. Nevertheless some of them can be touched after having informed the staff of the museum. There are no aids in braille or in large print and labels are difficult to read for partially sighted visitors.
For more info please visit here.
Services
- Guided tours
- Bookshop
- Conference room
- Access for the disabled
- Italian captions
- Audioguides Italian and English.
Guided tours for schools are available by appointment during the school year.
Info: Educational Department tel. +39 051 2193922 (Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am to 1pm) and +39 051 2193933 (Tuesday and Thursday from 1pm to 5pm) or edubolognamusei@comune.bologna.it
Timetables
| Tuesday | 10am-2pm |
| Wednesday | 2pm-7pm |
| Thursday | 10am-2pm |
| Friday | 2pm-7pm |
| Saturday | 10am-7pm |
| Sunday | 10am-7pm |
Closed on non-holiday Mondays, 1st May and 25th December
Holidays
Open: August 15 10am-7pm
