The Provincial Art Gallery Santa Chiara is located in the monastic complex of Santa Chiara, situated in the heart of the ancient city of Cosenza between Santa Chiara and Antonio Serra streets and near Corso Telesio. It also houses the Library of the Province of Cosenza. Once dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene, since 1578 the church became the second Cosenza seat of the nuns of the religious order of the Poor Clares. The Monastery of Santa Chiara was one of the richest in the city of Cosenza thanks to income derived from houses and shops located in various neighborhoods of the historic center and also enjoyed rights and privileges granted by Queen Joanna and King Ferrante and confirmed by King Philip II, on important occasions such as the fairs of Saint Augustine and Magdalene. The complex is adjacent to the Giostra Nuova, which had its nerve center in what is now Piazza XV Marzo, the hub of city life and commerce in the 16th century and the site of the major and most important architectural and artistic campaigns up to the present day.
The Gallery consists of a large exhibition hall arranged on two levels, offering the public the possibility to visit the museum path freely or with the assistance of guides. Thanks to the use of portable panels, the Gallery is a versatile environment suitable for various types of temporary events. In the exhibition hall, the dome covering of the ancient church of Santa Chiara remains visible, demonstrating the strong bond between the contemporary exhibitions and the antiquity of the site that hosts them. The Santa Chiara Art Gallery also has additional exhibition rooms on the lower floors, conference rooms, and spaces usable for creative and educational workshops.
Information about Provincial Art Gallery S. Chiara
Corso Bernardino Telesio
Cosenza (Cosenza)
+39 0984814525
cosenzacentro@groupama.it
https://www.artinprogress.it
Source: MIBACT
