Located in the heart of Milan and right next to the Duomo and the Palazzo Reale, the Museo del Novecento is a must-see venue for anyone interested in art.
Nested in the Palazzo dell'Arengario, a building conceived in the late 1930s but only finished after WWII, the Museo del Novecento opened here in 2010 after extensive renovation works.
The Museum host part of the art collections belonging to the city of Milan, which have been enriched through the years through the acquisition of important collections, such as the Jucker Collection, donations from the Antognini and the Boschi di Stefano collections, as well as long-term loans.
Divided into four main conceptual areas (Futurism, Controversy and Modernity, Sign and Matter, Gestures and Processes), the five levels of the museum spread in five levels showcases the full array of artistic movements in the XX century, and includes some of the best examples of art of this era in Italy and worldwide.
The visit starts with Umberto Boccioni's striking Futuristic bronze 'Unique Forms of Continuity in Space', which welcomes the visitor and sets the tone for what they will find henceforth.
The itinerary continues in the hall of columns, which displays important examples of the avant garde art movements of the early XX century.
The works of Italian futurists Umberto Boccioni, Gino Severini, Luigi Russolo, and cubist Carlo Carra share the ample hall with those of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.
The itinerary continues on the fourth floor, with an entire wing dedicated to Modern Art ("Controversial Modernities"), and another dedicated to the art created between the 1960s to the 1980s ("Gesture and Processes").
At the entrance, we are greeted by a selection of portraits by Amadeo Modigliani, a Matisse Odalisca, one of Picasso's Demoiselle's d'Avignon, and a colorful landscape by Georges Braque.
Texts in Italian and English help the visitor learn more about the artworks, the art movements represented, and their historical context without obstructing the enjoyment of the collection.
The showcase on this wing continues with an important selection of works by Giorgio de Chirico and Italian artists of the Modern era, in an exhibition that combines paintings and sculptures in a variety of materials such as bronze, marble and granite.
At the end of this floor, we find a mezzanine which doubles as a resting area. From here we can admire the nearby Duomo through the windows, as well as a collection of small bronzes and sculptures.
On the fifth floor, the itinerary continues with the topic "Sign and Matter", which groups artworks created between the 1950s and 1960s.
Starting with the fantastic artistic explorations by Alberto Burri -such as "Rosso Plastica" (1961), "Cellotex" (1974), and "Cretto Nero e Oro" (1994) -, the exhibition also includes Arnaldo Pomodoro's bronze "Sfera #5", photographs of his work, and Salvatore Scarpeta's "Composition (Extramural #5)", among many other examples of Italian art during this period.
At the end of this wing, the escalators take us to the Lucio Fontana Hall, an area designed for events which boasts landscape views of the adjacent Duomo and Piazza Vittorio Emanuelle II.
On the ceiling, we can admire "
Soffitto Spaziale", a neon installation designed by Fontana in 1956 for the 9th Milan Triennale.
The hall connects through escalators to the mezzanine where we can continue to admire a selection of Fontana's pieces and other Italian artists.
At this point, there are no more floors to climb to, so we may think that our visit is over - but in fact there's still a lot more to see.
Don't forget to visit the annex wing on the fourth floor, featuring some of the most important Italian artists of the late XX and start of the XXI century, as part of the "Gestures and Processes" exhibition topic.
Accessible through a white connecting bridge behind the escalators, the large halls of this area include works by Claudio Parmiggiani, Paolo Scirpa, Sarenco, Piero Manzoni, Maurizio Catelan, Nikki de Sant Phalle, Mario Cerioli, Michelangelo Pistoletto, and many more.
This wing also hosts a lounge area where visitors can take a quiet break while browsing the available art books.
In addition, every connecting corridor between the halls and access areas of the Museum are also used for micro-exhibitions by other artists, further enriching the visitor's experience.
The museum's itinerary ends on the first floor, where we find an eclectic display of works (oils, photographs, sculptures, installations, etc.) in an arrangement that defies the organization used through the rest of the museum.
On the wall, Marinella Senatore's 2021 neon sculpture "Dance first, think later" sets the tone for this hall. A large collection of chairs -each of a different design- may make visitors doubt whether they are allowed to interact with the pieces or not.
The arrangement in this final room is meant to expose the visitor to our contemporary times, where some rules are broken and more freedom and interactivity is given to audiences.
And yes - you can test sitting on the chairs, but make sure to check the explanatory text on the wall so you can learn more about them.
From the Avant garde of the early 20th century to the rupturist artistic experiments of the early XXI century, the Museo del Novecento compiles a carefully curated selection of Italian and international artists in a wide variety of artistic movements.
Located in a modern building with ramps, elevators, and escalators, the museum is fully accessible for visitors with reduced mobility. In addition, a free audioguide is available to download on your phone in Italian and English.
In spite of its medium size, a visit to the Museo del Novecento provides a most complete experience of the art movements that took place in the XX century, one of the most momentous periods of art creation in history, projecting them into the present time and beyond.
If you are ever in Milan, don't forget visiting the Museo del Novecento - you will not be disappointed!
To Learn More
Venue: Museo del Novecento
Location: Piazza Duomo 8, Milan. Metro: Duomo.
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 7:30 pm. Thursdays from 10 am to 10:30 pm.
Cost: € 10,00. Concessions available.
More information: https://www.museodelnovecento.org
Cover Image: Museo del Novecento
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