The convent was founded by the Franciscan order in the 13th century and remained active until the 18th century.
The Sestini collection contains over 1 million photographic items, including glass plates and celluloid negatives.
The cloister, known as the Chiostro delle Arche, contains medieval stone sarcophagi embedded into its walls.
The 'Bergamo 900' exhibit uses multimedia installations to narrate the transition of Bergamo from an agrarian society to a modern industrial hub.
The convent complex underwent significant restoration to convert its former monastic cells into modern museum galleries.
The Convento di San Francesco is a 13th-century Franciscan monastery complex located in Bergamo's Città Alta that now houses the Museo delle Storie di Bergamo and the Museo della Fotografia Sestini. The site serves as a primary repository for the photographic archives of the Sestini Foundation, documenting 20th-century social and industrial evolution. Exhibits within the 'Bergamo 900' section utilize the convent's historic architecture to contextualize the city's modern political and economic transformations. The complex features a preserved cloister and frescoes that highlight the site's medieval religious origins. Visitors can access a panoramic terrace offering views across the valley and the surrounding alpine foothills.
The central cloister arches framing the historic stone well.
Prioritize visiting the upper terrace for a clear view of the Città Alta skyline.
Check the museum's official website for temporary photography exhibitions, which rotate periodically within the Sestini gallery.
Plan your visit to coincide with the museum's temporary audio-visual installations.
Attempting to drive into the Città Alta, as the area is a restricted traffic zone; walking is the standard method of access.
Closed on Mondays.
Maintain a quiet tone as the site retains the atmosphere of a historic religious cloister.
