Milan, Pinacoteca Ambrosiana closes 2024 with 300,000 visitors, record, and positive balance sheet

A 2024 with a bang for Milan ’s Ambrosian Picture Gallery, which ends the year with a historic result, touching 300,000 visitors, a 20 percent increase over the previous year, and an all-time record for the institution. This success testifies to the growing interest in one of Milan’s most prestigious museums, as well as one of the oldest in Italy. An achievement that confirms its centrality in the cultural scene, not only locally, but also internationally. The Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana, to which the Pinacoteca is linked, also celebrated the second positive balance sheet in its history, a tangible sign of the solidity of the historic institution.

“Attracting audiences of all ages and seeking unique experiences is the key to our success,” says Antonello Grimaldi, secretary general of the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana since March 2022. “The Ambrosiana’s virtuous path has been possible thanks to the synergy between the custodians of cultural heritage-the College of Doctors of the Milanese institution and the Congregation of Conservators from the excellent work of my collaborators. Museums must be not only custodians of art and history (preserve), but also places of continuous innovation, research and inclusion (enhance). This is the vision that guides my managerial management of a place of culture with more than 400 years of history.”

A year full of exhibitions and initiatives

The year 2024 was a year of great dynamism for the Ambrosian Picture Gallery. Among the most notable events was the first Nice to see you retrospective exhibition dedicated to the artist Gaetano Pesce, which attracted many design and contemporary art enthusiasts. The collaboration with Moleskine during Design Week also had a significant impact, with the Detour exhibition bringing new perspectives on visual culture. The exhibition The Treaty of Crimes and Punishments by Cesare Beccaria, on the other hand, offered a reflection on Enlightenment ideas and the figure of the famous Milanese philosopher. In addition, the partnership with Gallerie d’Italia - Intesa Sanpaolo for the exhibition The Genius of Milan further enriched the cultural offerings, consolidating the Pinacoteca as a dynamic center of art and culture.

Not only exhibitions: over the course of the year, the Pinacoteca has initiated numerous extraordinary openings, with 3-euro admissions, and organized classical music concerts, lectures and inclusive tours for the visually impaired. A further step toward inclusivity was the new collaboration project with the Milan Polytechnic, which brought innovations in the way art is enjoyed, making the museum even more accessible to all.

The year 2024 also saw the return of one of the masterpieces of the Ambrosian Picture Gallery’s permanent collection: theAdoration of the Magi by Andrea Schiavone, restored by the La Venaria Reale Conservation and Restoration Center. This painting, part of Milan’s historical and artistic heritage, has returned to shine in its historic home in Piazza Pio XI, attracting the attention of scholars, collectors and visitors. On the occasion of the Christmas holidays, the Pinacoteca offered the widespread exhibition The Way of the Kings, which included works such as the Adoration of the Magi by Titian and Morazzone, and an itinerary that also touched on the crypt of San Sepolcro and the church of San Sepolcro, enriched by 9 nativity scenes from the Museo del Presepio in Dalmine.

The past year also marked the beginning of a new adventure in the field of digital communication: the Ambrosian Picture Gallery in fact launched a podcast channel that gave voice to its masterpieces and initiatives. It is not just a guide to the most important pieces in the collection, but a space for reflection on art, inviting listeners to an ongoing dialogue with the Ambrosiana’s cultural heritage. This initiative, combined with an active presence on social media, has helped to consolidate the image of the Pinacoteca on a national and international level, strengthening its role as a point of reference in the world of culture.

Plans for the near future

Looking to the future, the Ambrosian Picture Gallery is ready to continue on this successful path. Thanks to the economic and managerial results achieved in 2023 and 2024, the institution is preparing to meet the challenges that the future holds, with a special eye on the big events coming up, such as the Jubilee and the Olympics. Grimaldi stressed the importance of seeking new strategic sponsors to further strengthen the role of the Art Gallery on the international cultural scene.

The year 2025 promises to be just as exciting, with major exhibitions. Prominent among them will be appointments with two contemporary artists: Sidival Fila, a Franciscan friar and artist who works with disused materials, and Nicola Samorì, one of Italy’s leading artists, known for his ability to transform and reinterpret works by the great masters. These exhibitions will provide an opportunity to compare contemporary works with masterpieces from the permanent collection of the Pinacoteca, for a reflection on the dialogue between past and present.

Milan, Pinacoteca Ambrosiana closes 2024 with 300,000 visitors, record, and positive balance sheet

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