Kronos Museo della Cattedrale

About

The first museum of sacred art in Piacenza goes back to 1930: it housed objects loaned by local churches. Today’s museum, Kronos, was opened in 2015 with the aim of documenting the history and life of the Cathedral and the Diocese. It is arranged on three levels: the ground floor with the permanent collection, a second level dedicated to temporary exhibitions, and third dedicated to the Codex 65 and the archives. The ascent of the cupola (you must be accompanied by a custodian) frescoed by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, known as il Guercino, between 1626 and 1627 starts from this level. Of outstanding interest, at the end of the visit to the museum, is the section dedicated to the Libro del Maestro (or Codex 65), a model and treasury for the liturgy that is also a summa of mediaeval culture. The Libro del Maestro (12th century) is the most important and mysterious volume belonging to the cathedral, but also the most significant book in the city.

At a glance

• Typical visit: about 1 hour 30 minutes