Pinacoteca di Brera 🇮🇹

When you visit Milan, Italy, you cannot miss the Pinacoteca di Brera, the city's main public gallery for paintings. Located inside the historic Palazzo Brera, this remarkable institution grew out of the cultural program of the Brera Academy, which shares the site. Art lovers will discover one of Italy's foremost collections of paintings spanning from the 13th to the 20th century.

Inside, you can wander through halls featuring legendary masterworks from famous artists including Bellini, Mantegna, Carpaccio, Titian, Veronese, and Tintoretto. Be sure to seek out Raphael's key masterpiece, Sposalizio (the Marriage of the Virgin), alongside striking works by Francesco Hayez and Bramante's frescoes from the Visconti Panigarola house. The Palazzo Brera complex itself offers a rich history, having housed a former Jesuit convent, the Braidense National Library, an astronomical observatory, and a historic botanical garden located directly behind the gallery.

Furthermore, you can explore the expanded Grande Brera project, which includes a modern art wing at Palazzo Citterio displaying 19th and 20th-century works. Step inside this iconic destination to immerse yourself in centuries of magnificent Italian art and culture.

What to see at Pinacoteca di Brera

• Raphael's iconic painting, Sposalizio (the Marriage of the Virgin)
• Masterworks by Bellini, Mantegna, Titian, Veronese, and Tintoretto
• Bramante's historical frescoes from the Visconti Panigarola house
• Academic history paintings by Francesco Hayez
• Modern art collections housed at the nearby Palazzo Citterio

Visiting tips

Take time to wander through the historic Orto Botanico di Brera botanical garden located right behind the gallery.

How long: 2-3 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Pinacoteca di Brera is easy to reach on Milan’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Milan Cathedral and La Scala. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Milan travel guide.