Margarita

Our visit took about 1 hour and 45 minutes, including the crypt. We arrived at 10:00 am, and it wasn’t crowded - just one group ahead of us. We had pre-booked tickets via GetYourGuide and entered without waiting. There was also no queue for the crypt. The gallery and museum are impressive and rich in history. As the first public library open to the public, the Ambrosiana is remarkable in its own right, including the building. Beyond the paintings, the Cartone of Rafaello movie, the library itself is stunning, and seeing Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex is truly a highlight.

+6

Binglu Wang

Super nice museum. The museum’s circulation and exhibitions are exquisitely designed, with beautiful classical paintings, courtyard landscapes, and curatorial arrangements.

+1

Henrik

Worth seeing, but could be much better. It has an art collection, and there is a unique collection of Leonardo da Vinci's writings (Codex Atlanticus). The building is also quite nice. However, the art collection is somewhat scattered, and the recommended path through the collection is confusing and hard to follow. Also, I thought they would show items from their vast book collection, but none of it is on display. Granted, there is a whole room with the Codex Atlanticus, but it would have been nice to see some of many other books in the collection. The gift shop/book shop is quite ok.

+5

Fazil Babajev

Such an underrated gem of a place. The collection is huge and full of great paintings and sculptures. Everything is laid out in a way that actually makes sense. The brochure map is very helpful and makes navigating the building pretty smooth. The only annoying part was that if you’re just visiting the collection, you have to exit the building and walk a few minutes back to the entrance to reach the lockers again. Still, that’s a minor inconvenience compared to how impressive the whole place is. Must visit!!

+2

Zeal Z

definitely worth visiting. Most of the tourists only go to Brera, but this is like an under-the-radar spot. I was astonished by the sketch of “School of Athens” by Raphael.

Mahira Priharta

AMAZINNNNGGGGGGGG MUSEUMMMMM! If you need to choose one museum to visit in Milan please come here! They have plenty of collections from paintings, statues, to some meaningful items from the past! The museum have 3 floors, each floor will obviously surprised youuuuu! One of their best collections is the scribble of The School of Athens painting it was so big and when you enter the room you will feel amazed and touched! At the end of the walk you’ll see the library and it was AMAZING! The books still there and obviously they have codex atlanticus the notes and drawing of Leonardo Da Vinci… it was CRAZYYYY TO SEE IT! Omg they also showcase some of the pages of the book there, unbelievable! ♥️ at the end you can buy some souvenirs from the bookshop, amazing 🫶🏻 best 15€ spent (tickets for student with access to the crypt as well) oh and please don’t forget to take picture in their balcony with lots of statues it was pinterest worthy !! 🤭

+14

Beverly Zygmunt

It was a drizzly day in Milan, so I decided to skip a planned visit to Parco Sempione and go,instead, to a museum. The Ambrosiana is a very short walk from the Duomo metro stop. The art is beauiful. I always prefer statues to paintings, and there were plenty of both. As you exit the art gallery, you pass through the biblioteca, the library portion of the Ambrosiana. There are apparently one million printed volumes in the library. I don't know how many you see as you are leaving, but the shelves are impressive. Some of the library's collection of daVinci notes and drawings are on display.

+1

Seokjin Ham

The museum is located inside the historic Biblioteca Ambrosiana, one of Europe’s oldest libraries. The library was founded in 1607 by Cardinal Federico Borromeo, who then established the art gallery in 1618 by donating his personal collection of paintings, sculptures, and drawings. This made the Ambrosiana one of the first institutions in Italy to integrate public art display with formal artistic education. Today, the gallery houses more than 1,500 works and 248 drawings, arranged thematically and chronologically across 24 exhibition rooms. Visitors can admire masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Caravaggio, Botticelli, Bramantino, and others — and also explore the historic library that still accompanies the gallery.

+8

Bree M

It starts out boring, but as you follow the route, it gets better and better! They will hold your luggage and coats for you, gratis. Don’t look at photos if you want to be surprised. Closed Wednesdays. Go to the park behind the castle in Milan, too. And the crazy cat cafe!

+7

Yiğit Selamoğlu

The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, located in Milan, is both an art gallery and one of the oldest libraries in the city. Founded in 1618 by Cardinal Federico Borromeo, it was established as a center of learning and culture, and today it houses an extraordinary collection of artworks, manuscripts, and historical artifacts. Among its most celebrated treasures is Leonardo da Vinci’s Portrait of a Musician, as well as the Codex Atlanticus, the largest surviving collection of his drawings and scientific writings, which provide unique insight into the genius of the Renaissance master. Another highlight of the collection is Raphael’s preparatory cartoon for the School of Athens—a monumental black-and-white drawing that served as the design for the famous fresco in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace. The gallery also features works by other great masters, including Titian and Caravaggio. In addition to its artistic holdings, the Ambrosiana includes a historic library with rare manuscripts and ancient texts, underscoring its role as a hub of scholarship for centuries. Beneath the gallery lies an ancient crypt, adding to the site’s historical and architectural significance.

+27