San Colombano - Tagliavini Collection
San Colombano - Tagliavini Collection
San Colombano - Tagliavini Collection
4.5
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
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4.5
173 reviews
Excellent
124
Very good
38
Average
6
Poor
3
Terrible
2
cordyroy
Mobile, AL2,332 contributions
Oct 2019 • Couples
We completely enjoyed our visit to this unique museum. In a former church there is the most wonderful collection of mostly keyboard instruments. Most are elaborately decorated, lovingly cared for and are in playing condition.
As for the staff following you around, it's their job. And if there are only a few visitors... Also these incredibly valuable instruments are within reach NOT behind a glass wall.
An amazing collection begun by one man.
Only complaint is there should have been music playing so one can hear what they sound like!
As for the staff following you around, it's their job. And if there are only a few visitors... Also these incredibly valuable instruments are within reach NOT behind a glass wall.
An amazing collection begun by one man.
Only complaint is there should have been music playing so one can hear what they sound like!
Written 13 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christabelle
Boston, UK16 contributions
Jul 2024 • Solo
It’s the remains smog a 6th century church and crypt with wonderful restored instruments from the late Luigi Tagliavini collection. In the autumn I understand they do concerts and the majority are in playing condition. The paintings on the walls of San Columbine former church are amazing
Written 24 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AnnArborMHT
Genoa, Italy1,648 contributions
Jun 2013 • Solo
I hadn't intended to visit this museum but since it's part of the Bologna Welcome Card (saving 10 euros!) and it was close to the Museo Civico Medievale which I really wanted to see and finally because TA reviewers loved it, I decided to go. Now I'm not that keen on musical instruments but the promise of frescoes got me in the door and I was not disappointed! This was my favorite of 7 museums that I saw and if you love art/frescoes don't miss it! The oratory of San Colombano was so beautiful; painted nearly floor to ceiling with frescoes, that I hardly noticed the pianos in the center. I didn't purchase the audio guide because they are detailed signs in Italian and English, making the rooms and collection very enjoyable. Besides the frescoes, the pianos were beautiful but for me this museum is all about the art on the walls! Don't miss it. I found that the Bologna Welcome card was a very good deal. I had a two hour very pleasant, walking tour (13 euros without the card or it's included) and admission to all the museums that I could fit in 48 hours for just 20 euros, so it really pays to figure out what you want to see before setting off to a museum.
Written 13 June 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
skoteras
Eugene, OREGON6 contributions
Mar 2015 • Family
I've read many enthusiastic reviews, and, as a keyboard musician, was expecting a lot.
However, despite the relatively big number of instruments, there is not much variety. Many spinets, many harpsichords. Some rare items too, like the harpsichord/piano bundle, or the glass piano. There is a Viennese action piano available, but you can't see the mechanism.
Overall, a dark place with no knowledgeable staff around. The only person there didn't want to go into many details, he would just point to different instruments with angry face. We got an impression that we were disturbing something, and weren't welcome (after paying a high admission price).
Also, it's kinda sad seeing instruments that should produce sound and life, being all covered with plastic protectors, so nobody can play'em. It's like seeing stuffed dead animals instead of going to the Zoo....
However, despite the relatively big number of instruments, there is not much variety. Many spinets, many harpsichords. Some rare items too, like the harpsichord/piano bundle, or the glass piano. There is a Viennese action piano available, but you can't see the mechanism.
Overall, a dark place with no knowledgeable staff around. The only person there didn't want to go into many details, he would just point to different instruments with angry face. We got an impression that we were disturbing something, and weren't welcome (after paying a high admission price).
Also, it's kinda sad seeing instruments that should produce sound and life, being all covered with plastic protectors, so nobody can play'em. It's like seeing stuffed dead animals instead of going to the Zoo....
Written 10 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WilliamJo
Bologna, Italy122 contributions
Nov 2011 • Couples
If you turn left into Via Manzoni after visiting Palazzo Fava, behind the Hotel Baglioni (recently renamed the Grand Hotel Majestic, facing the Cathedral of S. Pietro in Via Indipendenza), it is easy to get to San Colombano, a church that is part of the Genus Bononiae series of museums. We had the good fortune not only to visit the collection, but also to get tickets from the ticket office for a concert here (on the Saturday before). The tickets are called coupons because admission is free of charge but if you don’t show up in good time before the concert your place is allocated to those waiting at the door. At the concert we attended, the instruments were played by Maestro Tagliavini, the professor of music who dedicated 50 years of his life to putting together this wonderful collection of 80 historic musical instruments. The ancient church of San Colombano has been painstakingly restored to provide a fitting showcase for these priceless instruments, that include organs, an early eighteenth-century folding harpsichord, an Italian-style bentside spinet, two square pianos, a half-sloping console piano and no less than three grand pianos. Some of the instruments are embellished with pastoral scenes and the overall effect is enchanting. The Oratory on the first floor is an interesting part of the experience and visitors would do well to allow time also for this part of the San Colombano complex. The ground floor is step-free, and visitors using a wheelchair are admitted through a separate door at the front of the building by means of a short ramp. Then there is small lift up to the first floor, where there are steps in various places, so unlike the ground floor, the first floor is not step-free. In addition there is a thirteenth-century crypt with a wall painting that came to light during the restoration work.
San Colombano is only one minute on foot from Palazzo Fava: just turn left as you come out of the palazzo and walk straight on for about 200 metres and on the right you will come to the imposing façade of the church, with an ornate portico on the ground floor. The entrance is just past the portico, to the right. On the upper part of the façade the rather curious bronze sign “Casa del Mutilato” is a reminder of the fact that after the First World War the first-floor oratory housed an association of ex-servicemen, though this meant they had to make their way up a flight of stairs. Then the building fell into disrepair. After years of neglect, San Colombano has now been restored to its former glory, providing visitors with a unique experience, that is made all the more agreeable by the kindness and helpfulness of the museum staff. Guided tours are held at regular intervals but all the exhibits are carefully labelled in English and Italian so you can still enjoy the experience even without a guide. Admission is free of charge.
Opening hours: 10-13, 15-19, from Tuesdays to Sundays, closed on Mondays. Admission free. Address: Via Parigi 5, Bologna. Tel.: 051 19936366. E-mail: sancolombano@genusbononiae.it
More details
http://www.genusbononiae.it/index.php?pag=27
San Colombano is only one minute on foot from Palazzo Fava: just turn left as you come out of the palazzo and walk straight on for about 200 metres and on the right you will come to the imposing façade of the church, with an ornate portico on the ground floor. The entrance is just past the portico, to the right. On the upper part of the façade the rather curious bronze sign “Casa del Mutilato” is a reminder of the fact that after the First World War the first-floor oratory housed an association of ex-servicemen, though this meant they had to make their way up a flight of stairs. Then the building fell into disrepair. After years of neglect, San Colombano has now been restored to its former glory, providing visitors with a unique experience, that is made all the more agreeable by the kindness and helpfulness of the museum staff. Guided tours are held at regular intervals but all the exhibits are carefully labelled in English and Italian so you can still enjoy the experience even without a guide. Admission is free of charge.
Opening hours: 10-13, 15-19, from Tuesdays to Sundays, closed on Mondays. Admission free. Address: Via Parigi 5, Bologna. Tel.: 051 19936366. E-mail: sancolombano@genusbononiae.it
More details
http://www.genusbononiae.it/index.php?pag=27
Written 16 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simon G
Dublin, Ireland157 contributions
Sept 2019
Found this little gem of a museum which combines a fascinating history of keyboard instruments from harpsichords of the 1500s to the modern piano in the beautiful setting of an old church. Beautiful pieces to admire against a backdrop of frescos. Restoration work going on whilst you are viewing which adds to the experience. One of the highlights of our very enjoyable trip to Bologna.
Written 19 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CheltenhamPaul
CheltenhamPaul150 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
Very interesting collection of keyboard instruments in a beautiful building. As others have noted the staff do tend to follow you around and on the whole don't speak much English but the staff at the ticket office were very helpful and pleasant. We really enjoyed our visit.
Written 11 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HHenrike
Beckenham, United Kingdom24 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
The visit to this little jewel of a museum was not on our priority list, but I am so glad we went! An immense collection of old and ancient instruments, mostly but not exclusively spinets, harpsichords and pianos have found a beautiful home in this former church. The audio guide (free with the entry ticket) was not offered automatically, so do ask when you go. It is really worth it to get a flavour of the instruments - and it also offers information on the church architecture and art. We particularly liked the way the collection was dispersed all through the many halls, rooms, nooks and crannies of the church, all pointed out to us by the friendly staff. Do go!
Written 11 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrushM
Oxford, UK1,244 contributions
Sept 2019
We went here as part of our composite tourist ticket (well worth the money by the way) and we were really pleased that we did, It's a hidden gem, an old retored church with a wonderful collection of old harpsicords and other old musical instruments. Completely deserted when we went but a great way to spend an hour or two.
Written 6 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WorldTravellerTony
Oxford, UK295 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
We really enjoyed visiting this lovely museum which is housed in a super restored chapel. The instruments on display show amazing craftsmanship, but what is sooooo disappointing in not being able to hear what they sound like - such a shame to see such superb instruments, but not hear them - at the very least they should either have examples of the music being piped through speakers or played through the audio guide. It's like going the a Michelin star restaurant and not being able to eat the food!
Written 13 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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