Museo del Risorgimento

The Museo del Risorgimento in Milan is devoted to the historical period of Italian reunification, which runs from Napoleon's first invasion in 1796 to the capture of Rome in 1870. The collection was founded in 1886, but it was not until 1950, after several moves (including one to the Castello Sforzesco), that it found its permanent home in the Palazzo Moriggia. Today the museum is part of the city's historical collections, which also include archives, libraries, and spaces for temporary exhibitions as well as academic conferences.

The exhibition route leads chronologically through fourteen historical rooms as well as an armory. You'll see a mix of paintings, documents, weapons, and personal belongings that recall the Napoleonic era, the wars of independence, and the Five Days of Milan in 1848. Among the most striking exhibits are the broken bell from the tower on Piazza dei Mercanti, which rang in the uprising, and the original tricolor flag that once flew above the cathedral.

Another focus is the wars of 1859 and 1866 and the deeds of Giuseppe Garibaldi, including his poncho from the Expedition of the Thousand. The painting collection includes significant works by contemporary artists depicting battles such as Magenta and Solferino, as well as historic moments such as Victor Emmanuel II's entry into Venice and the breach at the Porta Pia in Rome.