Official Information
Official website: https://www.lacarrara.it/
Official tickets: https://www.ticketlandia.com/m/lacarrara
Address: Piazza Giacomo Carrara 82, 24121 Bergamo (BG), Italy
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Opening Hours
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 09:00–17:30
Saturday, Sunday, public holidays: 10:00–18:00
Tuesday: closed
Last entry is usually 45 minutes before closing. The museum occasionally offers special evening openings on the last Friday of the month; check the official website for updates.
Accademia Carrara is one of Italy’s top fine art museums and offers a refined yet often uncrowded experience compared to larger museums in Milan or Florence. Founded in the late 1700s thanks to the collection of Giacomo Carrara, it has grown with donations from distinguished families like the Piccinelli and Zeri. The collection offers an impressive overview of Italian painting from the 14th to the 19th century, all housed in a beautifully restored neoclassical building just below Bergamo’s Città Alta.
Paintings are arranged mainly by region and period, with especially notable groups representing the Venetian, Lombard, and Florentine schools. Highlights include works by Pisanello, Bellini, Mantegna, Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, Lotto, Moroni, Canaletto, Tiepolo, and important 19th-century artists such as Hayez. Clear signage, good lighting, and comfortable galleries make it easy to view the collection, with bilingual labels and guides enhancing accessibility.
Recent displays offer thematic connections between portraits, altarpieces, local history, and the evolution of artistic taste. The gallery frequently collaborates on joint programs with the nearby GAMeC, which allows visitors to buy combined tickets and explore both historical and contemporary art.
A visit to Accademia Carrara suits both art specialists and casual travelers, letting you admire masterpieces in a calm setting. It pairs naturally with a stroll to nearby Città Alta or a ride on the funicular to the old town, creating a harmonious link between Bergamo’s cultural past and its vibrant present.