The Chiusa Municipal Museum is dedicated to the Loreto Treasure and the Artists’ Colony
Image gallery: Chiusa Municipal Museum
The Chiusa Municipal Museum (Stadtmuseum Klausen) boasts a varied history. Founded in 1914 as a local history museum, its art treasures were transferred to the Bolzano Municipal Museum during the fascist era. Only in 1978 did the exhibits return to Chiusa, finding a new home in the former Capuchin Monastery. The monastery itself dates back to a 1699 endowment by Maria Anna of Spain, fulfilling a request from her confessor, Father Gabriel Pontifeser, a native of Chiusa.
The Municipal Museum finally opened its doors in 1992. The artwork is displayed in two large halls on the ground floor. The first hall showcases works by Alexander Koester (1864-1932), a painter of the Munich School and a leading figure of the Chiusa Artists' Colony. The second hall, the former sacristy, houses further works from the Chiusa Artists' Colony (1874-1920). The small town was once a popular destination for artists like Albin Egger-Lienz, who sought romantic inspiration there.
Upstairs, the museum's highlight awaits: the Loreto Treasure from the 16th and 17th centuries. This unique collection of Spanish and Italian artwork primarily comprises gifts from the Spanish royal couple, Charles II and Maria Anna, as well as from nobles of the Spanish court.
A tour through the Baroque Capuchin Church of St. Felix of Cantalice, accessible via a 17th-century cloister, completes the visit. How to get to the Chiusa Municipal Museum: The former Capuchin Monastery is located near the old town of Chiusa. Parking and a bus stop are close by. By bicycle, you can reach Chiusa from Bolzano or Bressanone via the Valle Isarco Cycle Path.
Contact info
- Capuchin Monastery, Fraghes /Frag 1 - 39043 - Chiusa/Klausen
- +39 0472 846148
- museum@klausen-bz.it
Opening times
Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.
Admission
€ 6.00 adults
€ 4.00 seniors 60+
€ 4.00 groups (8 and more persons)
€ 2.00 children and young people (8-18 years)
€ 2.00 students
free for children under 8 years
free for school classes
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family ticket:
€ 10.00 per family
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only special exhibition or Capuchin Church:
€ 4.00 per person
More information
A virtual tour is available in collaboration with the Film and Media Office of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol to discover the wonders of the Loreto Treasure: provinz.bz.it/kulturabteilung/film-medien/ in German language, or provincia.bz.it/arte-cultura/film-media/ in Italian language. The museum's multimedia e-book on the Loreto Treasure, specifically designed for young visitors, families, primary, and secondary schools, is available for download at museumklausenchiusa.it (in German and Italian language).
Special exhibitions from June 14 to August 16, 2025:
* "Corpus Meum" by Lois Anvidalfarei: The Val Badia artist was inspired by the phrase "Hoc est enim Corpus Meum", which can be found in the Loreto Treasure at the Municipal Museum, and his works explore the encounter with one's own body. Opening on June 13, 2025, at 7 pm with an introduction by Francesca Rossi, Director of the Musei Civici di Verona.
* "Art in the Old Town" by Eric Perathoner: At 33 locations in the historic centre of Chiusa, the Val Gardena artist presents a comprehensive overview of his work. Opening on June 13, 2025, at 7 pm in the Chiusa Municipal Museum.
The Municipal Museum stays open every year from the end of March to the end of October resp. early November, Sunday and Monday rest days. It remains closed on public holidays and in winter.
Season start 2025 on March 29.
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