Museo Emilio Greco is an art museum in Orvieto, housed beside the cathedral in Palazzo Soliano. Its collection follows important stages in the Sicilian sculptor’s career, and highlights include works connected to the 1948 Olympics and Pope John XXIII.
- Location: Ground floor of Palazzo Soliano, Piazza Duomo, beside Orvieto Cathedral.
- From Hotel Kristall: About 12 minutes by car or 87 minutes on foot; the hotel is a three-star hotel in Orvieto.
- Tickets: Cathedral admission includes the museum; a combined ticket also includes the Claudio Faina Etruscan Museum.
- Hours: The monumental complex has seasonal hours, but museum opening information conflicts, so confirm before visiting.
Who was Emilio Greco?
Emilio Greco was a Sicilian artist born in 1913 who died in 1995 and had artistic and personal ties to Orvieto. He donated the collection to the city.
His connection to Orvieto is also visible at the cathedral: Greco made its bronze doors between 1962 and 1964. The Ministry of Culture says the large bronze doors have stood among the cathedral’s medieval portals since 1970.
What does Museo Emilio Greco display?
The collection presents works dating from 1947 to 1990, covering significant stages of Greco’s career. The museum has been the starting point of the MODO exhibition route since September 2008.
Among the collection’s named highlights are Lottatore, shown in London for the 1948 Olympics, and the plaster cast of the Monument to Pope John XXIII, made between 1965 and 1967.
Where is the museum in Orvieto?
Museo Emilio Greco is on the ground floor of Palazzo Soliano at Piazza Duomo, directly beside Orvieto Cathedral. Palazzo Soliano was built at the prompting of Pope Boniface VIII Caetani, whose pontificate lasted from 1294 to 1303.
The museum’s position makes it straightforward to pair with the cathedral and its surrounding square. For a wider sense of the historic centre’s streets and landmarks, use this guide to Orvieto’s old town as you plan your route.
What are the opening hours and admission options?
Cathedral tickets include Museo Emilio Greco, but the museum’s opening status is not consistent across official listings. The Ministry of Culture marks it closed every day, while the cathedral operator sells tickets that include admission to the museum. Contact the Opera del Duomo before setting out, and check the official site before you go.
The monumental complex’s seasonal hours are January–February, 09:30–17:00; March, 09:30–18:00; April–September, 09:30–19:00; October, 09:30–18:00; and November–December, 09:30–17:00. On Sundays and religious feast days, visiting hours are 13:00–16:30 from November through February and 13:00–17:30 from March through October. Hours may change during events or particular periods.
The official cathedral ticket costs €8 and includes the cathedral, the museum, the underground chambers and an audio guide. A combined €11 ticket adds the Claudio Faina Etruscan Museum.
Tickets are available online or from the ticket office at Piazza Duomo 25, opposite the cathedral. The operator does not publish a separate museum-only charge on its ticket page, and no reservation is required for the museum.
Free admission applies to children up to and including age 10; regional and other licensed tourist guides; people with disabilities and accompanying persons with appropriate certification; ordained priests; members of religious orders; and residents of the Diocese of Orvieto-Todi.
The Claudio Faina museum is open 09:30–18:00 from April 1 to September 30 and 10:00–17:00 from October 1 to March 31. Tours are not permitted during liturgical celebrations at the high altar or in the Chapel of San Brizio.
What can you combine with a museum visit?
Because the collection is beside the cathedral, you can plan the museum around time at the cathedral and its underground chambers, which are included in the same admission product. The combined ticket adds the Claudio Faina Etruscan Museum, creating another museum stop within the same ticket.
If you want to compare the city’s collections, the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Orvieto offers a separate museum focus.
FAQs
Where is Museo Emilio Greco?
It is on the ground floor of Palazzo Soliano at Piazza Duomo, beside Orvieto Cathedral.
What are the collection’s key works?
Highlights include Lottatore, shown in London for the 1948 Olympics, and a plaster cast of the Monument to Pope John XXIII.
Does a cathedral ticket include Museo Emilio Greco?
Yes. The official cathedral ticket includes museum admission, although official listings differ on whether the museum is open. Confirm with the Opera del Duomo before visiting.