Pinacoteca Di Brera
Pinacoteca Di Brera
5 minutes read•Published on 10-11-2024
The Pinacoteca di Brera is an important art gallery you can find in Milan, Italy. It is inside the Palazzo Brera, a historic building from the 17th century. This gallery has a big collection of Italian Renaissance art, making it one of the key museums in Italy. Visitors have the opportunity to see art from famous artists like Rafael and Caravaggio. In addition, the Pinacoteca di Brera is a place of learning and culture with a focus on visual arts.
Tickets & tours
A selection of the best tours to experience the Pinacoteca Di Brera with our partner GetYourGuide. These tours offer the best experience for visitors from all around the world.
A short history
Pinacoteca di Brera, or the Brera Art Gallery, is a famous art museum located in Milan, Italy. It was first opened to the public in 1776. The creation of this gallery was initiated by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. Her goal was to create an art space for students of the Brera Academy, which shares the same building, to learn more about art history.
During its initial period, the museum held only a limited number of art works. A large number of these were religious paintings, taken from churches during the time Napoleon took over Italy, between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. As years passed, the collection became more expansive and now includes many notable works from the Renaissance period.
Substantial changes were made to the museum during the 20th century. One significant change happened in the 1950s when an architect called Piero Portaluppi was appointed to update the main courtyard and several areas of the gallery. These updates made the museum more modern, while ensuring the history and art of the museum were maintained.
Pinacoteca di Brera currently displays over 500 pieces of artwork, including pieces from renowned Italian artists such as Raphael, Caravaggio, and Bellini. Every year, it attracts thousands of visitors from all over the globe, making it a top attraction in Milan. The gallery continues to hold true to its founding aim, which is to educate both students and the public on the historical and cultural aspects of the art it displays.
One reason to visit
Supper at Emmaus by Caravaggio
If youre planning a trip to Milan, its a great idea to visit Pinacoteca di Brera to see the Supper at Emmaus, a notable work by Caravaggio. Produced in 1601, this piece is a testament to Caravaggios mastery of realism and dramatic lighting, factors that made him a significant figure in the world of art. In depicting the moment in the Bible when Jesus is recognized by his disciples after his resurrection, Caravaggios treatment of the subject matter is both unique and awe-inspiring. When you get the opportunity to see this painting at Pinacoteca di Brera, youll gain a deeper appreciation for Caravaggios talent and contribution to art history.
Getting there
The Pinacoteca di Brera is located in the central part of Milan. If you are starting your journey from the Milan Central Station, it would take approximately 30 minutes on foot. Start by heading west on Piazza Duca d'Aosta toward Via Luigi Galvani. After about 50 meters, turn left onto Via Luigi Galvani and continue until you reach Via Fabio Filzi. Take a right onto Via Fabio Filzi and continue for about 400 meters until you reach Via Vittor Pisani. Turn left onto Via Vittor Pisani and continue onwards for approximately 600 meters until you reach the Piazza della Repubblica. Continue straight onto Via Alessandro Tadino for about 400 meters, then turn right onto Via Gustavo Modena. Follow Via Gustavo Modena for about 350 meters, then keep left to stay on Via Gustavo Modena for a further 250 meters. Finally, take a slight right onto Via Brera. Continue straight, and your destination, the Pinacoteca di Brera, will be on the left.
To get to the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan by bike, you first need to navigate towards Via Dante which is a well-known biking road. Continue biking for some time until you reach Cordusio. From Cordusio, take a right onto Via Broletto and continue for about 0.6 km. After this, you will need to make a left onto Via Mercato. From Via Mercato, take another right onto Via Pontaccio and continue for 0.2 km. Finally, make a left onto Via Brera which will lead you to your destination. Please be aware of the road signs and follow all bike safety rules during your commute.
To get to the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan by public transport, you have multiple options. If you choose to go by Metro, take the M2 line (green line) and get off at the Lanza station. Then, it's a short walk along Via Tivoli and Via Fiori Chiari before turning onto Via Brera. Alternatively, you can use the trams. The Tram 2 stops at Via Cusani which is a 5-minute walk to the museum, or you can take Tram 1 or 4 to Via Monte di Pietà, another close stop. If your preference is the bus, take Bus 61 and disembark at Via Pontaccio, from there it is only a three-minute walk. Start your travel plans now to enjoy the art collection at Pinacoteca di Brera!
Starting from the Central Milan Train Station (Stazione Milano Centrale), get onto the A51 from Viale Andrea Doria and Viale Lunigiana. Then, follow A51 and SS11 to Viale Francesco Crispi in Milano. Take the exit toward Centro from Cavalcavia della Martesana. Continue on Viale Francesco Crispi. Take Via Moscova, Via della Moscova and Via Fatebenefratelli to Via Brera to arrive at the destination. Be advised that there is limited parking around the museum, so it's suggested to use any nearby public parking areas. Please allow some extra time to find a suitable parking spot.