Milan - Event

Brera 1809 - 2009 is a series of cultural initiatives celebrating the bicentenary of the Pinacoteca di Brera. Exhibitions, conferences, concerts and conventions explore some of the most significant episodes in the history of the renowned Milanese picture library.

The 12-month programme kicks off on 17 January with the exhibition Caravaggio ospita Caravaggio, offering four masterpieces coming from Rome's Galleria Borghese, the National Gallery in London and New York's Metropolitan Museum. Some other key dates are 19 March, when visitors can assist the completion of the live restoration of Raphael's Marriage of the Virgin, and 7 April, which opens the two-month long "Brera as it was" exhibition dedicated to Marco Gozzi and the paintings he was commissioned to complete for the Pinacoteca.

Opened on the occasion of Napoleon's birthday, on 15 August 1809, with a small selection of pieces, the Pinacoteca di Brera is today recognised as one of the major art collections in the world.

For more details on Brera 1809 - 2009 and general information on permanent exhibitions, please visit the Pinacoteca di Brera website.