Ambrosiana

The Statue of Saint Charles in Arona

The Statue of Saint Charles in Arona, which popular tradition has affectionately dubbed San Carlone,
was created in the seventeenth century at the behest of Federico Borromeo.

He planned to create a colossal statue, visible even from the lake, to pass on to the future the grandeur of Saint Charles Borromeo, his cousin and predecessor as Bishop of Milan, who died in 1584 and was canonised in 1610.

The statue, hollow and more than 23 metres high, rests on a 12-metre-high granite base. It was made to a design by Giovanni Battista Crespi, known as Cerano. It was then assembled out of large sheets of copper hammered and joined with nails and iron rods by the sculptors Siro Zanella of Pavia and Bernardo Falcoli of Lugano. The work was completed in 1698.

It is the world’s second-highest statue, after the Statue of Liberty in New York. Its surface area is no less than 500 square metres. It is possible to visit the inside, through stairs, up to a height of 28 metres.

Since 1624 the Ambrosiana, at the behest of the Federico Borromeo himself, is the owner of the complex on the hill of Arona.

Ticket
Single ticket – terrace and statue: euro 10,00
Single ticket – terrace only: euro 5,00

2024 OPENING HOURS

Extraordinary closures are possible in case of bad weather conditions: please always check the website www.statuasancarlo.it (or Facebook and Instagram) for updated opening hours and access rules before visiting the Statue.

Extraordinary opening times in February
Sunday 11 February and Saturday 17 February
2.00 pm – 5.30 pm (last admission 5.00 pm)

March
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
10.00 am – 5.00 pm (last admission 4.30 pm) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 1.00 to 2:00 pm, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces

April, May and June
From Wednesday to Sunday + holidays (April 01, April 02, May 20)
10:00 am- 06: 30 pm (last admission 6:00 pm) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces

July and August
Everyday
10:00 am – 06:30 pm (last admission 6:00 pm) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 1:00 to 2:30 pm, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces
Thursdays
6.30 pm – 10.00 pm

September and October
From Wednesday to Sunday + holydays (September 01, September 02, September 09, September 10)
10:00 am- 06: 30 pm (last admission 6:00 pm) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces
Thursday 05 September
6.30 pm – 10.00 pm

From November 01 to November 04
Every day
10:00 am – 05: 00 pm (last admission 04:30 pm) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces

From December 21 to December 31
Every day (closed December 25)
10:00 am – 05: 00 pm (last admission 04:30 pm) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces

Minimum necessary visiting time approximately 30 minutes.

INFO

Piazzale San Carlo
28041 Arona Novara, Italia

tel. and fax+39 0322 249 669
[email protected]
www.statuasancarlo.it

The Statue of Saint Charles in Arona

INFO UTILI

Piazzale San Carlo
28041 Arona Novara, Italia

tel. and fax+39 0322 249 669
[email protected]
www.statuasancarlo.it

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)

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