Pinacoteca Brera

A beautiful building houses a priceless collection of masterpieces that is a must-see museum in Milano. The Brera Gallery is located in a symmetrically ordered brick building that was once a Jesuit school. When religious orders were dissolved 1773, it went to the state. The Duchess Maria Theresa of Austria decided that Milano needed a cultural institution and founded the gallery, along with a college, the national library, an observatory and the botanical gardens.

The austere facade hides a charming courtyard lined with loggias and adorned with statues. In the art gallery you'll find a host of works that were sequestered from convents and churches in the Napoleanic era. The collection features paintings by masters like Raphael, Bellini, Bramantino, Rubens, Rembrandt, and Tiepolo. Modern artists like Modigliani and Morandi are also represented, along with many talented Lombardy artists.

The museum is located in the Brera district, near the Sforza Castle, a colorful district that is quaint and somewhat bohemian, so wander around Via Madonnina and Via Brera while you're here.

The Art Museum Brera is open from 8:30 AM til 7:15 PM. Closed Mondays.