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PhrasesVisiting a ChurchC'è un museo diocesano vicino?
B1

C'è un museo diocesano vicino?

Is there a diocesan museum nearby?

Pronunciation

cheh oon moo-ZEH-oh dyoh-cheh-ZA-noh VEE-chee-noh.

When to use it

When looking for more sacred art in the area. Every Italian diocese has a museum (Museo Diocesano) that collects art from churches across the territory.

What it means

Un museo diocesano is a diocesan museum — a museum containing sacred art and historical artefacts from all the churches in the diocese. These museums are often extraordinary and little-visited by tourists.

Variations

Il museo diocesano ha molte opere delle chiese locali?

Does the diocesan museum have many works from local churches?

Confirming the museum's relationship to local churches.

È gratuito il museo diocesano?

Is the diocesan museum free?

Asking about admission to the museum.

Ha un database delle opere d'arte sacra del territorio?

Does it have a database of sacred artworks in the area?

For researchers and serious art enthusiasts.

Mini Dialogue

— C'è un museo diocesano vicino? — Sì, a trecento metri da qui, in piazza del Vescovado. — È aperto oggi? — Sì, dalle dieci alle tredici e dalle quindici alle diciotto. — Vale la pena visitarlo? — Assolutamente — ha opere straordinarie dalle chiese di tutta la diocesi.

— Is there a diocesan museum nearby? — Yes, three hundred metres from here, in Piazza del Vescovado. — Is it open today? — Yes, from ten to one and from three to six. — Is it worth visiting? — Absolutely — it has extraordinary works from the churches of the whole diocese.

Cultural Note

Italy's Musei Diocesani are among the country's best-kept secrets. The Museo Diocesano of Pisa holds works by Cimabue, Giovanni Pisano, and Masaccio. That of Cortona has Fra Angelico's Annunciation. These institutions collectively preserve Italian sacred art of the highest quality and are usually free or very inexpensive to visit.