Ambrosiana

Who we are

The Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana was founded on 7 September 1607 by Cardinal Federico Borromeo. His was the original idea, consisting in the promotion of human and Christian values ​​through science and culture in the service of the Catholic Church.
Starting from this inspiration, the Ambrosiana’s purposes are the training of the clergy, religious and laity, as well as spreading Christian culture and interreligious and intercultural dialogue, pursued in particular through the preservation, custody and enhancement of its Cultural Heritage (manuscripts, printed works, artworks, etc.).

Codice Atlantico (Codex Atlanticus)
foglio 4 recto.
Drawing of digging machine.

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
(detail)

Who we are

The Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana was founded on 7 September 1607 by Cardinal Federico Borromeo. His was the original idea, consisting in the promotion of human and Christian values ​​through science and culture in the service of the Catholic Church.
Starting from this inspiration, the Ambrosiana’s purposes are the training of the clergy, religious and laity, as well as spreading Christian culture and interreligious and intercultural dialogue, pursued in particular through the preservation, custody and enhancement of its Cultural Heritage (manuscripts, printed works, artworks, etc.).

OUR MISSION

MORE THAN 400 YEARS SPENT PURSUING A TASK THAT IS STILL RELEVANT

OUR MISSION

“Promoting the love of the True and Beautiful for the good of the people, the Church and society.” The words of the Archbishop of Milan, who is the Patron of the Ambrosiana and ultimately responsible for it, express the task of this ancient institution, embodied in the cultural and social context of our own time.

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PINACOTECA

The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana was established in April 1618, when Cardinal Federico Borromeo donated his collection of paintings…

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BIBLIOTECA

The Ambrosian Library, founded on 1607, was one of the earliest libraries to grant access to all who could read and write…

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ACCADEMIA

The purpose of the Accademia is to raise the Ambrosiana to the level of an Agora, a place devoted to fostering the dialogue…

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THE THREE SOULS OF THE AMBROSIANA

AMBROSIANA

A treasure chest containing a Library, an Art Gallery and an Academy: three complementary bodies aimed at promoting a love for literature, the arts, science and beauty.

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NOT JUST A LIBRARY, ART GALLERY AND ACADEMY: THE AMBROSIANA IS SO MUCH MORE...

THE OTHER FACES OF THE AMBROSIANA

The most magical and ancient places of Milan: the ancient Forum where Constantine, St. Ambrose, St.
Augustine and Theodosius walked, and the lower Church of Santo Sepolcro, built by the Crusaders… as
well as a colossal statue of St. Charles Borromeo on Lake Maggiore; a Museum-Home at the Sacro
Monte of Varese; a Foundation dedicated to the promotion of young artists: this is also the Ambrosiana!

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LODOVICO POGLIAGHI MUSEUM-HOME

Lodovico Pogliaghi (1857-1950) was one of the most significant Lombard artists to live in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

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SAN SEPOLCRO

The church of San Sepolcro was founded in 1030, when a Milanese moneyer named Rozzone built a church on the ancient Roman forum.

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THE COLOSSUS OF SAINT CHARLES IN ARONA

The Colossus of Saint Charles in Arona, which popular tradition has affectionately dubbed San Carlone, was created in the seventeenth century…

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MARCO MANTOVANI FOUNDATION

The Marco Mantovani Foundation seeks to preserve and enhance the works of the sculptor Marco Mantovani, as evidence of the life of an artist dedicated to sculpture and art.

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ROMAN FORUM

Between 1990 and 1992, archaeological excavations conducted underneath the ancient cellars of the Ambrosiana brought to light a portion of the pavement of the ancient Roman forum.

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THE COLLEGE OF FELLOWS

PRIESTS DEVOTED TO STUDY, RESEARCH AND RECEPTION

THE COLLEGE OF FELLOWS

The brilliant intuition of Federico Borromeo – offering the Milanese a place dedicated to the growth of the person in the love of truth and the experience of beauty, drew from the start on the work of valid and enthusiastic collaborators. This led to the foundation of the Collegio dei Dottori (College of Fellows). Since 1607 it has guided the development of the Ambrosiana and preserved its existence and its inspirational values, giving a face, mind and heart to a place intended for an encounter between cultures and the people who embody them.

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HOW THE AMBROSIANA WORKS

ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANS

Federico Borromeo’s intuition underlies the division of tasks between the two governing bodies of the Ambrosiana: the cultural role of the College of Fellows is supported by the Congregation of Conservators, appointed to ensure the stability of its holdings and the Ambrosiana’s administrative life.

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ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANS

WHAT’S ON

READING ROOM CLOSURE FROM SEPTEMBER 24 TO 29

Ambrosiana

READING ROOM CLOSURE FROM SEPTEMBER 24 TO 29

Reading room closed from September 24 to 29 included

24/09/2025-29/09/2025
ARE YOU IN LOVE? NO I'M IN MILANO

Ambrosiana

ARE YOU IN LOVE? NO I'M IN MILANO

19/09/2025-14/10/2025
Exhibition
SEPTEMBER 28: SPECIAL EVENING OPENING

Ambrosiana

SEPTEMBER 28: SPECIAL EVENING OPENING

From 18.00 to 19.30 (last admission) entrance to the Art Gallery and Crypt at the special price of €3.00

28/09/2025-28/09/2025
Natura morta<br>Jago and Caravaggio: two views on the transience of life

Pinacoteca

ONLINE COLLECTION

(158 online artworks)

A Soul in Purgatory, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
Codice Atlantico (Codex Atlanticus), f. 104 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Ceremonial saddle and stirrups. Detail of the wooden horse of Troy, Arte armaiola milanese
The Madonna Enthroned with Saint Ambrose and Saint Michael, Bartolomeo Suardi detto il Bramantino (1465-1530)
Clock with astrolabe, Sconosciuto
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 845 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 858 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Saint John the Baptist, Gian Giacomo Caprotti
Figured casket, Scultore lombardo
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Pietro Antonio Magatti (1691-1767)
The Madonna and Child with a Worshipper, Bernardino Betti detto il Pinturicchio (1454-1513)
The Madonna Nursing the Child by the Fountain, Bernaert van Orley (1488-1541)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 199 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Jael and Sisera, Giuseppe Vermiglio (1585-1635)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 139 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Apse of San Satiro and View of the Duomo, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 844 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Still Life with Fruit, Isaac Soreau (1604-1638)
Portrait of a Gentleman (Michel de l’Hospital), Giovan Battista Moroni (1520-1578)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 71 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 851 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of Napoleon King of Italy, Andrea Appiani (1754-1817)
The Adoration of the Magi, Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli also known as Morazzone (1571-1626)
Allegory of Fire, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
The Kiss, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 117 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Maternity, Mosè Bianchi (1840-1904)
Male portrait, Hans Muelich (1516-1573)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 3 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 4 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, Antonio Badile (1518-1560)
The Damned Soul, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
De divina proportione, Luca Pacioli (1445 circa – 1517)
Allegory of Water, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Kids and Lambs, Francesco Londonio (1723-1783)
Allegorical Female Figure, Giovanni Serodine (1600-1631)
Locked out of school, Emilio Longoni (1859-1932)
The Holy Family, Carlo Francesco Nuvolone (1609-1661)
Moses and the Brazen Serpent, Cesare Ligari (1716-1770)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus) f. 710 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of Peter Leopold of Habsburg-Lorraine (later Leopold II), Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-1779)
The Holy Family with Saints Anne and John, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
Mouse with Roses, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Dantesque window, Giuseppe Bertini (1825-1898)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1058 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Display case with the hair of Lucrezia Borgia, Alfredo Ravasco
Daggers with sheath (eared sfondagiaco dagger), Milanese Gunsmiths
Portrait of Bernardino da Lesmo, Bartolomeo Veneto (1502-1530)
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Jan II Brueghel il Giovane (1601-1678)
Adoration of the Magi, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 873 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Basket of fruit, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610)
Lesenes and trophies, Agostino Busti detto il Bambaia (1483-1548)
Cup with Turbo marmoratus shell, Christoph Lencker (1556 circa-1613)
Portrait of a Pilgrim, Monogrammista HL (XVI secolo)
Portrait of Manfredo Settala, Daniele Crespi (1600-1630) attribuito a
Naturalis Historia, Plinio il Vecchio (23-79 dC)
Plato, Giovanni Antonio Piatti (1447-1480)
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Giandomenico Tiepolo (1727-1804)
Washerwomen at the Canal, Emilio Gola (1851-1923)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 72 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Orrery, Sconosciuto
The Blessed Soul, Anonimo lombardo (XVII secolo)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 26 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 29 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Original Sin, Jan II Brueghel il Giovane (1601-1678)
Seascape, Paul Bril (1554-1626)
Susanna at her Bath, Carlo Francesco Nuvolone (1609-1661)
Portrait of a Young Man, Giorgione (Giorgio da Castelfranco copia da) (1478 circa-1510)
The Adoration of the Magi, Maestro del Santo Sangue (XVI secolo)
View of the Interior of the Duomo, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 49 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Pietà (copy from Michelangelo), Leone Leoni
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 116 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of a Young Man, Vittore Ghislandi detto Frà Galgario (1655-1743)
The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist, Ubertini Francesco detto Bachiacca (1494-1557)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 812 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portico in Ruins, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Crib, Federico Barocci o Baroccio detto il Fiori (1535-1612) (replica di)
The Magdalen and the Angel, Giulio Cesare Procaccini (1574-1625)
Napoleon Bonaparte’s gloves, NA
Self Portrait, Antonio Canova (1757-1822)
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, Jacopo da Ponte detto il Bassano (1510-1592)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1069 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The School of Athens, Raffaello Sanzio (1483-1520)
The Virgin of the Rocks, Andrea Bianchi detto il Vespino (attivo 1612-1640)
Flowers and Roses, Gaetano Previati (1852-1920)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 33 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of Emilia Morosini Zeltner, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
The Placing of Christ in the Sepulchre, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
The Madonna of the Pavilion, Sandro Botticelli (Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi detto) (1444 o 1445-1510)
The infant Jesus with a Lamb, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
Diana the Huntress, Joachim Friess (XVI-XVII secolo)
Christ Resurrected, Marco Basaiti (1470-1530)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 5 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Wedding of Peleus and Thetis, Ambito di Francesco Albani (1578-1660)
Landscape with Saint John the Baptist, Paul Bril (1554-1626)
Octagonal casket, Bottega degli Embriachi (XIV-XV secolo)
Mary Magdalene, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 860 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 12 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Adoration of the Magi, Andrea Schiavone (1510-1563)
The Holy Family with Sain John, Tobias and the Archangel Raphael, Bonifacio Veronese (1487-1553)
Portrait of Giuseppina Negroni Prati Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Christ on the Way to Calvary, Giovanni Busi detto Cariani (1480-1547)
Self Portrait, Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 145 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Head of Christ the Redeemer, Gian Giacomo Caprotti detto Salai (1480-1524)
Portrait of Giovanni Battista Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Portrait of Paolo Morigia, Fede Galizia (1578-1630)
Christ Crowned with Thorns, Bernardino Luini (1480-1532)
The Arco della Pace in Milan, Giovanni Migliara (1785-1837)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1006 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Triumph of David, Lucas Hugenszoon detto Luca di Leida (1494-1533)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 455 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Portrait of Alessandro Negroni Prati Morosini, Francesco Hayez (1791-1882)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 719 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Madonna and Child with Saint John the Evangelist and Saint John the Baptist, Marco d’Oggiono (1470-1525)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 663 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Adoration, Bartolomeo Suardi detto il Bramantino (1465-1530)
Horse’s head (Copy from the equestrian monument to Marcus Aurelius on the Capitol in Rome), NA
Portrait of a Lady, Giovanni Ambrogio De Predis (1455-1508)
The Dormition of the Virgin, Anonimo ferrarese (XV secolo)
Armillary sphere, NA
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 272 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Nautilus shell, Sconosciuto
The Adoration with Saint Roch, Gian Pietro Rizzoli detto Giampietrino (1508-1549)
The Annunciation, Gerolamo Mazzola Bedoli (1500-1569)
Winter Landscape with Skaters, Hendrick Avercamp (1585-1634)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 307 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Madonna and Child with Saint Peter and Saint Jerome, Cesare Magni (1511-1534)
Sacra Conversazione, Ambrogio da Fossano detto il Bergognone (1453-1523)
Burse, Artista dell’Italia centrale
Flowers in a Vase, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
Still Life with Musical Instruments, Evaristo Baschenis (1617-1677)
Laocoon (copy of the Vatican original), Leone Leoni
Still Life with Fruit, Isaac Soreau (1604-1638)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 149 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Codice Atlantico (Codex Atlanticus), f. 1 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 909 verso, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Mercury and Argus, Anonimo genovese (XVII secolo)
Portrait of a Young Girl with a Dove, Natale Schiavoni (1777-1858)
Portrait of a Musician, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
llias picta, NA
Man in Armour, Tiziano Vecellio (1480-1576)
Atlantic Codex (Codex Atlanticus), f. 21 recto, Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
The Martyrdom of Saint Peter of Verona, Alessandro Bonvicino detto Moretto (1490-1554)
Vase of Flowers with Jewel, Coins and Shells, Jan Brueghel il Vecchio “Dei Velluti” (1568-1625)
The Ambrosian Virgil of Francesco Petrarca, NA
Latin astrolabe, Anonymous
Mary Magdalene Penitent, Guido Reni (1575-1642)
The Assumption of the Virgin, Giovanni Agostino da Lodi (1467-1524 circa)
Libro d’Ore Borromeo, Cristoforo de Predis (1440-1486)
Saint Michael the Archangel, Giulio Cesare Procaccini (1574-1625)
Portrait of Saint Charles Borromeo, Giovanni Ambrogio Figino (1548-1608)
The Last Supper, Andrea Bianchi detto il Vespino (attivo 1612-1640)
Judith and Holofernes, Giuseppe Vermiglio (1585-1635)
Noctes Atticae, Aulo Gellio