The Gandino Basilica Museum, destined to collect the parish’s numerous artworks, was devised by the provost Monsignor Giovanni Bonzi and inaugurated on December 15th 1929, among the first of its kind in Italy. It preserves the extraordinary treasures that the faith, generosity and cultural ambition of the community and wealthy families have donated to Gandino’s churches from the 15th century to the present day. The project for a museum to house the Basilica’s treasures was also supported by the then Monsignor Angelo Roncalli, who visited Gandino on several occasions. The museum was first located in the Vicar’s house, a 16th century building located near the Basilica. It was however, deemed unsuitably sized to accommodate the rich donations acquired over the centuries, and was consequently renovated and enlarged in 1963 by the provost Msgr. Antonio Giuliani. A further expansion of the museum space took place during the 80s, thanks to Msgr. Alessandro Recanati who created the section for nativity scenes and textiles, using a historic structure close to the original museum.
Sacred art section
Sacred furnishings, vestments, tapestries, monstrances, chalices, paintings and a wonderful silver leaf altar: so many wonders in such a small museum!
This museum is unmissable for lovers of religious art. Among the oldest of its kind, the museum houses many valuable artworks from the nearby Gandino Basilica as well as from other churches in the area.
Here you can see Flemish tapestries, precious and antique fabrics, lace made from linen and metallic yarns, wooden inlays, furniture and sacred furnishings. It is certainly noted for the grand silver altar, made by the best Italian and Central European silversmiths. In the picture gallery, you will find works by local and other more famous artists, such as Carpinoni; the Treasury includes monstrances (including a beautiful Bavarian example in silver from 1527, weighing 11 kilograms), chalices and other golden objects.
The Gandino Basilica Museum, destined to collect the parish’s numerous artworks, was devised by the provost Monsignor Giovanni Bonzi and inaugurated on December 15th 1929, among the first of its kind in Italy. It preserves the extraordinary treasures that the faith, generosity and cultural ambition of the community and wealthy families have donated to Gandino’s churches from the 15th century to the present day. The project for a museum to house the Basilica’s treasures was also supported by the then Monsignor Angelo Roncalli, who visited Gandino on several occasions. The museum was first located in the Vicar’s house, a 16th century building located near the Basilica. It was however, deemed unsuitably sized to accommodate the rich donations acquired over the centuries, and was consequently renovated and enlarged in 1963 by the provost Msgr. Antonio Giuliani. A further expansion of the museum space took place during the 80s, thanks to Msgr. Alessandro Recanati who created the section for nativity scenes and textiles, using a historic structure close to the original museum.
Sacred art section
Sacred furnishings, vestments, tapestries, monstrances, chalices, paintings and a wonderful silver leaf altar: so many wonders in such a small museum!
This museum is unmissable for lovers of religious art. Among the oldest of its kind, the museum houses many valuable artworks from the nearby Gandino Basilica as well as from other churches in the area.
Here you can see Flemish tapestries, precious and antique fabrics, lace made from linen and metallic yarns, wooden inlays, furniture and sacred furnishings. It is certainly noted for the grand silver altar, made by the best Italian and Central European silversmiths. In the picture gallery, you will find works by local and other more famous artists, such as Carpinoni; the Treasury includes monstrances (including a beautiful Bavarian example in silver from 1527, weighing 11 kilograms), chalices and other golden objects.
