The Statue of Saint Charles in Arona, which popular tradition has affectionately dubbed San Carlone,
was created in the seventeenth century at the behest of Federico Borromeo.
He planned to create a colossal statue, visible even from the lake, to pass on to the future the grandeur of Saint Charles Borromeo, his cousin and predecessor as Bishop of Milan, who died in 1584 and was canonised in 1610.
The statue, hollow and more than 23 metres high, rests on a 12-metre-high granite base. It was made to a design by Giovanni Battista Crespi, known as Cerano. It was then assembled out of large sheets of copper hammered and joined with nails and iron rods by the sculptors Siro Zanella of Pavia and Bernardo Falcoli of Lugano. The work was completed in 1698.
It is the world’s second-highest statue, after the Statue of Liberty in New York. Its surface area is no less than 500 square metres. It is possible to visit the inside, through stairs, up to a height of 28 metres.
Since 1624 the Ambrosiana, at the behest of the Federico Borromeo himself, administers the complex on the hill of Arona.
Piazzale San Carlo
28041 Arona Novara, Italia
tel. and fax+39 0322 249 669
statuasancarlo@ambrosiana.it
www.statuasancarlo.it
Ticket
Single ticket – terrace and statue: euro 10,00
Single ticket – terrace only: euro 5,00
2023 OPENING HOURS
March
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
10.00 – 17.00 (last admission 16.30) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 13:00 to 14:00, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces
April, May and June
From Wednesday to Sunday + holidays (Aprile 04, April 25, May 01)
10: 00-18: 30 (last admission 18:00) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 13:00 to 14:00, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces
July and August
Everyday
10:00-18:30 (last admission 18:00) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 13:00 to 14:00, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces
September
From Wednesday to Sunday
10: 00-18: 30 (last admission 18:00) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 13:00 to 14:00, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces
October:
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
10.00 – 17.00 (last admission 16.30) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 13:00 to 14:00, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces
From October 30 to November 05
Every day
10:00-17: 00 (last admission 16:30) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 13:00 to 14:00, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces
WINTER CLOSURE: FROM NOVEMBER 06, 2023 UNTIL END OF FEBRUARY 2024
PLEASE,ALWAYS CHECK THE STATUE’S WEBSITE FOR COMPLETE AND UPDATED INFO ON OPENING TIMES AND ADMISSION PROCEDURES
Minimum necessary visiting time: approximately 30 minutes.
ANIMALS ARE NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE GREEN AREA AND INSIDE THE STATUE.
Piazzale San Carlo
28041 Arona Novara, Italia
tel. and fax+39 0322 249 669
statuasancarlo@ambrosiana.it
www.statuasancarlo.it
Ticket
Single ticket – terrace and statue: euro 10,00
Single ticket – terrace only: euro 5,00
2023 OPENING HOURS
March
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
10.00 – 17.00 (last admission 16.30) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 13:00 to 14:00, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces
April, May and June
From Wednesday to Sunday + holidays (Aprile 04, April 25, May 01)
10: 00-18: 30 (last admission 18:00) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 13:00 to 14:00, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces
July and August
Everyday
10:00-18:30 (last admission 18:00) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 13:00 to 14:00, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces
September
From Wednesday to Sunday
10: 00-18: 30 (last admission 18:00) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 13:00 to 14:00, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces
October:
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
10.00 – 17.00 (last admission 16.30) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 13:00 to 14:00, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces
From October 30 to November 05
Every day
10:00-17: 00 (last admission 16:30) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 13:00 to 14:00, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces
WINTER CLOSURE: FROM NOVEMBER 06, 2023 UNTIL END OF FEBRUARY 2024
PLEASE,ALWAYS CHECK THE STATUE’S WEBSITE FOR COMPLETE AND UPDATED INFO ON OPENING TIMES AND ADMISSION PROCEDURES
Minimum necessary visiting time: approximately 30 minutes.
ANIMALS ARE NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE GREEN AREA AND INSIDE THE STATUE.
Every Saturday at 15.30 a guided tour of the masterpieces of the Pinacoteca, together with professional guides of our official partner AdArtem
Opening hours of the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and of the San Sepolcro Crypt for the upcoming holidays
From April 6 to May 9 2023 the Crypt of San Sepolcro hosts the exhibition “Oliviero Rainaldi. 2023 AD”, an exhibition that traces the life of Christ in five episodes, birth, infancy, martyrdom, death and resurrection.
The Archbishop of Milan, His Excellency Mons. Mario Delpini, has appointed Msgr. Marco Maria Navoni Prefect of the College of Fellows of the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana with effect from 27 February 2023.
Rooms 2 and 3, the exhibition is the first in a series dedicated to showing us what is not normally displayed, for a wider enhancement of the Institution's heritage.
Crypt of San Sepolcro open until April 2 2023, every Saturday and Sunday from 11.00 to 17.30 | last access 17.00
