Museum of Frescoes G.B. Cavalcaselle

The Museum of Frescoes G.B. Cavalcaselle in Verona, located within the convent complex of San Francesco al Corso, represents one of the most fascinating art collections in the city. Inaugurated in 1973 and dedicated to Giovanni Battista Cavalcaselle, a famous art historian and critic of the 19th century, the museum houses a vast collection of frescoes detached from Veronese buildings ranging from the Middle Ages to the sixteenth century, saved from damage caused by the flood of the Adige in 1882. The complex of San Francesco al Corso, built in the thirteenth century, was originally a Franciscan convent. In 1935, Antonio Avena, then director of the Civic Museums, transformed the site into a tourist attraction by opening to the public the so-called “Tomb of Juliet”, which according to legend is the burial place of the famous Shakespearean heroine. The museum houses cycles of frescoes that originally decorated palaces and churches in Verona. Among the most significant works are fragments of the decoration by Altichiero in the Scaliger palaces and a cycle of frescoes by Jacopo Ligozzi and his father Ermanno. These frescoes offer a fascinating glimpse into the history and art of Verona, telling stories of saints, biblical episodes, and mythological figures with a wealth of details and colors. A notable example is the Hall of the Muses, which recreates an environment of a Veronese palace from the sixteenth century, with frescoes by Paolo Farinati. This room features mythological figures such as Mercury, Venus, Diana, and the allegory of Fame, created with an illusionistic perspective reminiscent of Baldassarre Peruzzi’s Hall of Perspectives in Rome. The original fireplace has been replaced with an artifact from the previous century, adding further historical charm to the environment. The museum is not limited to frescoes. In the underground areas, there are Roman amphorae dating back to the 1st century AD, and the cloister houses medieval and modern stone materials awaiting inclusion in a lapidary. Furthermore, the convent crypt contains the sarcophagus traditionally identified as Juliet’s tomb, an attraction that continues to attract numerous visitors.