Convento di San Francesco

The charm of a hidden treasure, just a stone’s throw from Piazza Vecchia

Buy tickets

Not far from the heart of Upper Bergamo, walk across Piazza Mercato del Fieno to discover a fine 14^th-century monastery that’s rich in hidden treasures. Its Cloister of the Arks, Cloister of the Well, and chapter house will reveal the long history of this building through frescoes from the 1300s and 1400s. A terrace offers a must-see panorama of the meeting point of two valleys, the Brembana and the Seriana.

Bergamo 900

A twentieth century of history. A territory of stories. A new museum

Discover the museum

Chiostro del Convento ripreso dall'angolo

Un ciclo di affreschi che raffigurano S. Pietro e S. Giovanni Battista,

Panorama dalla terrazza del Convento San Francesco

Convento di San Francesco

Built between the late 1200s and the early 1500s, the Convento di San Francesco is a fine example of Medieval abbey architecture, built around cloisters.

Peaceful cloisters, traces of centuries-old frescoes, and a terrace with a view of the meeting point of two valleys (the Seriana and Brembana) welcome visitors to the monastery.

Over the centuries, the complex has had many different uses: it was home to Franciscan friars in the Middle Ages, prisoners and prison guards in the Napoleonic and Austrian eras, and students and teachers from the 1930s to the 1990s.

To the east of the two cloisters and the chapter house, the rooms of the old church are now used for temporary shows and exhibitions.

Ripresa di un chiostro con colonne al tramonto

The Convent’s history

From the construction of the church to the completion of the monastical complex, from the Napoleonic era to various 20^th-century uses: 8 stages in the convent’s history.

1277

Founding of the Convent

Construction began on the church of Saint Francis, on land donated by the Bonghi family

14^th cen.

Cloister of the Arks

The monastery, housing and headquarters of the Franciscan monks were built around the church

14^th cen.

Chapter House

One of the gems of the convent, decorated by 14^th-century frescos

15^th cen.

Cloister of the Well

In the mid-1500s, the Convento di San Francesco reached its definitive layout

1797

Closure of the Monastery

The new political landscape overturned the uses and structure of the monastic complex

1938

Conversion into a school

The Municipality of Bergamo decided to use the convent as an elementary school

1943-1945

World War II

Conversion into a school managed by the Italian National Republican Guard

1997

The Museum

The former monastery became the ‘home’ of the Civic Museum

Buy your ticket

Piazza Mercato del fieno 6/a, 24129 Bergamo BG

Closed for restyling. see you from March 1, 2025. a lot of news to come!

Accessible.

The smaller cloister of the Convent has architectural barriers Small dogs are allowed but must be kept in a pet carrier. Guide dogs are permitted at all times.

How to reach us

Convento di San Francesco + Bergamo 900 + Museo della Fotografia Sestini + Temporary exhibitions

Full 5 €

Reduced 3€
18-26 years old, Groups of 15 people, discounts

Free
0-17 years old, Amici del Museo delle storie di Bergamo, person with disability and companion, ICOM members, accredited journalists, qualified tour guides, Abbonamento Musei Lombardia

Buy your ticket

Highlight

Mura di Bergamo: the Museum

Museo delle Storie di Bergamo

Search

Convento di San Francesco

Useful information

History

Page Menu

Useful information

History

Bergamo 900

Museo della Fotografia Sestini

Visioni Fenomenali

Convento di San Francesco

The Convent’s history

Founding of the Convent

Founding of the Convent

Cloister of the Arks

Cloister of the Arks

Chapter House

Chapter House

Cloister of the Well

Cloister of the Well

Closure of the Monastery

Closure of the Monastery

Conversion into a school

Conversion into a school

World War II

World War II

The Museum

The Museum

Buy your ticket

Book your visit

Buy the all in one ticket

Information

Tickets

Getting here