Lodovico Pogliaghi House Museum

At the end of the Viale delle Cappelle of the Sacro Monte di Varese, a wonder awaits art and history enthusiasts: the Lodovico Pogliaghi House Museum. This fascinating place is much more than just a residence; it is a workshop, a private museum, and a living testimony to the eclectic taste of its owner, the Milanese artist and collector Lodovico Pogliaghi.

The House Museum perfectly reflects the era and interests of its creator. Inside, visitors can admire over 1500 works of art and about 580 archaeological artifacts, along with Pogliaghi's working materials. Among these stands out the original plaster cast of the Milan Cathedral main door, a piece of extraordinary historical and artistic importance.

AN important REOPENING

After years of closure, the villa owned by the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan reopened to the public in 2014. Located right after the fourteenth chapel of the Sacro Monte, the House Museum represents the first point of interest that visitors encounter along the path.

A PLACE OF CREATIVITY AND INSPIRATION

Lodovico Pogliaghi designed this villa as a workshop-museum: a retreat where he could devote himself to study and creativity, and at the same time a place to collect works of art that inspired him. The museum path unfolds through seven rooms, including the beautiful atelier that houses a miniature of one of his major works and offers suggestive views of the surrounding nature.

AN ITALIAN GARDEN

To complete the picture, an enchanting Italian garden surrounds the villa. This green space is dotted with other antiquities collected by the artist, making the visit an immersive and fascinating experience.

Visit the Lodovico Pogliaghi House Museum and other museums in Varese for a unique experience that combines art, history, and natural beauty. Plan your visit and discover everything this captivating city has to offer.

Opening hours

FROM SATURDAY MARCH 16 TO SUNDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2024

Wednesday from 10:00 to 13:00
Thursday from 10:00 to 13:00
Friday from 10:00 to 13:00
Saturday, Sunday, and holidays from 10:00 to 18:00

For groups, it is always possible to book entry from Monday to Sunday.

tICKETS

Full ticket Saturday, Sunday, and holidays + guided tour € 10.00
Guided tours every hour except at 13:00
Full ticket Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday € 7.00
Cumulative ticket Saturday, Sunday, and holidays € 15.00
One-day guided tour of the museums: Pogliaghi House Museum, Baroffio Museum, and Crypt
Reduced ticket € 5.00
Ages 6-18; groups of more than 10 people; FAI and COOP members
Family ticket € 20.00
2 adults + 2 or more children
Garden only ticket € 2.00
Free ticket
For children 0-5 years; Lombardy Museum Subscription holders; disabled visitors; professional tourist guides; residents of Santa Maria del Monte

HOW TO REACH SACRO MONTE DI VARESE

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

You can reach Varese by train either with the TREnord Milano-Varese-Laveno line or the Ferrovie dello Stato Milano-Varese-Porto Ceresio line.

From the stations, take the urban bus line C which leads to the first chapel or continues to the top of the mountain.

FUNICULAR

On the funicular's opening days (Saturday afternoon and Sunday in spring and summer), line C takes you to the valley station of the funicular, from where you can ascend in a few minutes. The same bus ticket is valid for the funicular.

ON FOOT

Along the Viale delle Cappelle: start from the first arch in Via Prima Cappella. The avenue allows you to visit the 14 chapels with the mysteries of the Rosary; it has a cobblestone surface. It takes about 1 hour of easy walking, 2 km.
Difficulty: easy

From the Varese neighborhood of Velate: start from the Church of S. Stefano, urban line P. Follow trail 9/309 of the Campo dei Fiori park until the junction with trail 10 for the first chapel/marmitte dei giganti. The path also passes through Monte San Francesco with the remains of the ancient monastery. It takes about 2 hours, 4 km, elevation gain from 511 m to 793 m.
Difficulty: medium

From the Varese neighborhood of Rasa: start from Via delle Sorgenti, Castano Varese-Cuveglio bus line. Follow trail 6/306 of the Campo dei Fiori park. It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes, 1.5 km, elevation gain from 543 m to 830 m.
Difficulty: medium

For information on the accessibility of the UNESCO site, you can consult the dedicated page of the Lombardy Region.