Overlooking Piazza XX Settembre in the centre of Lecco, Palazzo delle Paure has been a museum complex since 2012: temporary exhibitions, the Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery and the Lecco Mountaineering Museum.
History
The current building dates from 1916 and is in an eclectic neo-medieval style; it was built to house the Finance Administration (Intendenza di Finanza), and a rectangular tower was added around 1926. The nickname “delle Paure” (“of the Fears”) is traced back to the tax-related functions carried out here: until 1964 the palace housed finance offices, the land registry and the customs office, and it was later used as a school. After a full restoration it has been a museum venue since 6 October 2012.
What to see
- First floor: temporary exhibitions, with a programme that changes through the year.
- Second floor: the Modern and Contemporary Art Gallery, with works from the eighteenth century to the present and a section devoted to graphic art and photography. The collections include paintings from donations and acquisitions and a photo archive of around 4,000 photographs and postcards of the Lecco area, the two world wars and the Manzoni places.
- Third floor: the Lecco Mountaineering Museum (Museo dell’Alpinismo Lecchese), with a multimedia section and climbing equipment donated to CAI Lecco.
Practical information
- Address: Piazza XX Settembre 22, Lecco, a short walk from the Torre Viscontea.
- Closed Mondays; Tuesday 10:00-14:00; Wednesday to Sunday 10:00-18:00. Closed on 1 May and 25 December.
- Single ticket: full €6, reduced €4, special reduced €2. A combined ticket is also available (full €8, reduced €6, special reduced €4).
- Accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.
- Part of the Lecco Urban Museum System (SiMUL) together with Palazzo Belgiojoso and Villa Manzoni.
- Hours and prices are from simulecco.it (checked in September 2026): the official site has the current information, so it is worth checking it before your visit.