Diocesano Museum

Situated in Piazza Virgiliana, the Diocesan Museum was opened in 1983 and partly comprises the old Augustinian monastery of St. Agnes. It is dedicated to the Bishop Francesco Gonzaga. Its fine neo-classical façade, completed in 1795, is the work of the brilliant Veronese architect Paolo Pozzo. It houses some magnificent collections, primarily sacred art. The most illustrious of these include: a substantial number of 18th century paintings by Giuseppe Bazzani, a collection of splendid objects from the treasures of the Cathedral and Basilica of St. Barbara, including the famous missal of Barbara of Brandenburg (illuminated from 1442) and lavish Reliquary of the True Cross (produced in Lombardy in the 16th century). There is also a unique and complete display of 15th century armour carried from the Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie, three Flemish tapestries and other tapestries woven in Paris in the late 16th century, a collection of works by prestigious artists including Andrea Mantegna, Correggio, Domenico Fetti and Benedetto Pagni, a set of Renaissance ceramics from Mantua and some ivory and enamel artefacts from Limoges. A visit to these rooms, which are dotted around the monastery's large cloister, is highly recommended.