A journey through Valtellina's history and art
Located in the heart of the historic center of Sondrio, Palazzo Sassi de' Lavizzari is an eighteenth-century building that houses the MVSA – Museo Valtellinese di Storia e Arte. Donated to the Municipality in 1922 by engineer Francesco Sassi de' Lavizzari, the palace has been designated for cultural purposes, becoming a reference point for the preservation and enhancement of Valtellina's heritage.
🏗️ Architecture and historical environments
The building has a trapezoidal layout and extends over four floors plus an attic. Inside, a paved entrance hall with a ribbed vault leads to a rectangular cobblestone courtyard, porticoed on two sides and covered by ribbed vaults. From the back portal, one accesses a staircase covered by a large barrel vault. On the first floor, the corridors are covered by ribbed and barrel vaults, with some rooms featuring coffered or wooden ceilings. The roof is a pavilion with a slate covering.
Among the most valuable environments stands the Stüa Salis, a richly carved sixteenth-century wooden hall with caryatids and nine coats of arms of noble families, unique among the three municipal stüe for having maintained its original position.
🖼️ The Valtellinese Museum of History and Art (MVSA)
The MVSA is structured into six exhibition sections distributed over three floors:
- Archaeology: houses finds that tell the history of Valtellina from prehistory to the medieval period.
- Sacred Art: displays works of religious art from Valtellina from the 11th to the 17th century, including frescoes, altarpieces, wooden sculptures, and sacred goldsmithery.
- Collections: showcases objects and collections that recount the history of the palace and the museum.
- Ligari: dedicated to the family of Valtellinese painters of the 18th century, with over 800 works of art illustrating the life and work of the Ligari workshop.
- Novecento: a collection of modern and contemporary art, including paintings, sculptures, graphics, and installations.
- History: explores significant figures and events in the city of Sondrio.
The museum also offers educational activities for children and families, creative workshops, and guided tours for adults, making it a cultural place accessible to all.
📍 Useful Information
- Address: Via Maurizio Quadrio, 27, Sondrio (SO)
- Hours: Museum open from Tuesday to Sunday; offices open from Monday to Friday.
- Contacts: Museum phone: 0342.526553; offices: 0342.526269
- Website: www.comune.sondrio.it
🚗 How to get there
- On foot: located in the historic center, easily reachable from Piazza Garibaldi.
- By car: parking available nearby.
- By train: the FS station in Sondrio is about a 10-minute walk away.
