Brera Palace

The Brera Palace and its pinacotheque, an artistic jewel of Milan

The Brera Palace brings together several institutions, including the Brera pinacotheque, one of the most important art museums of Milan. Housed in a former convent, it is a high place of Lombard culture. The Milan audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this palace and its exceptional collections.

A former convent become a museum

The Brera Palace, housed in a sixteenth- and seventeenth-century building, was first a convent before bringing together several cultural institutions. It houses notably the Brera pinacotheque, a museum of ancient and modern art renowned for its masterpieces of Italian painting, as well as an academy of fine arts, a library and an observatory. It is one of the great cultural hubs of Milan.

What to see

The Brera pinacotheque presents masterpieces of Italian and European painting, in the majestic setting of a former convent. The inner courtyard, adorned with a famous statue of Napoleon, is worth the visit on its own. It is a major stop for art lovers, in the heart of the bohemian Brera district.

Practical information

The Brera Palace lies in the Brera district, in the centre of Milan, reachable on foot. The pinacotheque can be visited; its hours and prices vary by day and season, and it may be closed on certain days. The inner courtyard is freely discovered. It is best to check the arrangements before coming.

What does the Brera Palace house?

Several institutions, including the Brera pinacotheque, one of the most important art museums of Milan, as well as an academy, a library and an observatory.

What is the Brera pinacotheque?

It is a museum of ancient and modern art, renowned for its masterpieces of Italian painting, housed in the Brera Palace in Milan.