Albani Diocesan Museum

The Museum of the Duomo officially opened in 1964 and is called Albani in recognition of the noble family of Urbino who, besides giving birth to Giovan Francesco Albani (1649-1721), Pope Clement XI at the pontifical throne from 1700 to 1721 , he had been particularly impressed with the Cathedral, contributing decisively to increasing the collection. Eighteenth-century documents attest that the "treasure of the cathedral" was shown to the learned scholars in the sacristy cabinets. The new museum layout was born in 1964 by the wish of Bishop Anacleto Cazzaniga and the Metropolitan Chapter to expand the exhibition halls, using some of the ambiences of the Episcopal Palace. The establishment of the Museum presenting to the public works of the collection collected around the Cathedral of Urbino or coming from the rich monasteries, convents and churches of the Archdiocese, manifested the love for art and interest for the protection of the Church , which, in its universality, continues to be the promoter and guarantor of its heritage, a faithful mirror of the cultural identity of the territory and the peoples.
With these premises and on that first collection, the project of the new set up for the Albani Diocesan Museum wanted by St. Ecc.za Mgr Francesco Marinelli, Archbishop of Urbino-Urbania-Sant'Angelo in Vado.