Pinacoteca Comunale (Municipal Art Gallery), Assisi

The Municipal Art Gallery is housed in the Villemani Palace. The palace was built in the 16th century by Vigilantis, who sold it to the Giacobettis, who ceded it to the city of Assisi. It then became the Civic Library in 1893. Now it is home to the Civic Art Gallery. It houses a collection mainly of religious art, including frescoes.

The palace is a Baroque style town house affair. The main entrance is flanked by two columns and topped by a balcony. Inside is where the treasure is. There are vaults covered with 17th century frescoes by Umbrian and Tuscan painters.

Many of the paintings and frescoes are from the middle ages and the Renaissance. They were shown in civic and religious buildings in and around Assisi.

The exhibits include paintings and art saved from areas threatened with destruction or theft. There is a section of the museum devoted to honoring those who took risks in preserving and rescuing Art in Assisi in dangerous times.

There are photographs for instance, of a German military officer and doctor. The doctor got the German occupation army to set up hospitals for soldiers in Assisi. This saved the town from the bombings that were to follow.

There are paintings by Giotto, Puccio Capana, Ottaviano Nelli, Nicolo di Liberatore and Pietro Perugino.

The Museum is located at number 12 via San Francesco. it is open everyday except Tuesday.