Modena's Galleria Estense is undergoing a makeover: a surprise for visitors.
It is one of the oldest and most important National Galleries in Italy , a treasure trove of artistic treasures collected by the Este family. Starting today, July 15, 2025, the Galleria Estense welcomes visitors with a new vestibule featuring a radically transformed layout, designed to accompany visitors, from their very first steps in the museum, into the life of the Este dukes , their patronage, and their history, a source of enormous artistic wealth for the region.
The gallery, in fact, reflects the eclectic and refined taste of a typically aristocratic collecting tradition, attentive to beauty, history and cultural prestige.
The history of the Galleria EstenseHoused in the Palazzo dei Musei since 1894, the Galleria Estense is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Modena , established in 1854 by order of Francis V of Habsburg-Este. The collection on display offers a journey through the works collected primarily by the Dukes of Este during their rule in Ferrara and includes a remarkable group of paintings spanning the 14th to the 18th centuries.
In addition to the paintings, there are also marble and terracotta sculptures, objects that belonged to the ducal wardrobe, drawings, small bronzes, medals, majolica, refined ivory works and musical instruments.
Among the names of the artists exhibited we mention Diego Velazquez with the “Portrait of Francesco I d'Este”, El Greco with the “Triptych”, Correggio with the “Madonna and Child” and the “Marble Bust of Francesco I d'Este” by Bernini , considered one of the most prestigious works in the gallery.
The new vestibule of the Galleria EstenseStarting July 15 , the Galleria Estense in Modena will welcome visitors with a major new addition: "The Vestibule of the Este Family," an entrance hall designed to offer a new gateway to the museum's collections. The transformed and enhanced exhibition will guide visitors through the history of the Dukes of Este and their patronage, representing an important first step in the museum's journey toward the new Gallerie Estensi, once the expansion work on the former Estense Hospital is completed.
Visiting the gallery, you will find yourself immersed in a suffused atmosphere, surrounded by the faces of the great names of the Este family : from Borso d'Este to Alfonso I d'Este , the lord of the great Ferrarese Renaissance, patron of Ludovico Ariosto, Dosso Dossi and Garofalo. There is no shortage of ladies such as Isabella d'Este , eldest daughter of Ercole I, Lucrezia Borgia and Laura Martinozzi ,
On the other hand, you can delve deeper into their deeds by following a timeline that accompanies the fundamental stages of the dynasty, from Ferrara to Modena: the devolution of 1598 with the move of the court to Modena, the 'sale of Dresden' of 1746, the Napoleonic era of 1796 and the departure of the last Duke Francis V of Austria-Este in 1859.
At the back, however, you can admire Bernini's famous bust depicting Francesco I d'Este, the very symbol of the museum .
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The Galleria Estense is open Tuesday to Sunday , from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm, and on Sundays and holidays, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Admission is €8 for adults and €7 for reduced-price FAI members. Admission is free for those under 18, while admission is €2 for those between 18 and 25.
The gallery can be easily reached on foot as it is located 20 minutes from the train station and 5 minutes from the Duomo.
