The Colossus 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 7,00
Single ticket – terrace only:
euro 4,50
2022 OPENING HOURS
From March 18 to April 20
Friday, Saturday and Sunday + holidays (April 18, 2022)
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
From April 21 to June 30
From Wednesday to Sunday + holidays (April 25, 2022)
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
Until September 18:
Everyday
10.00 – 18.30pm (last admission 18.00) *
From September 19 to September 30:
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
From October 1 to 30
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
10.00 – 18.30pm (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
From October 31 to November 2
Every day
10:00-17: 30 (last admission 17:00) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 13:00 to 14:00, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces
WINTER CLOSURE: FROM NOVEMBER 3, 2022 UNTIL END OF FEBRUARY 2023
PLEASE,ALWAYS CHECK THE STATUE’S WEBSITE FOR COMPLETE AND UPDATED INFO ON OPENING TIMES, ADMISSION PROCEDURES AND COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
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 7,00
Single ticket – terrace only:
euro 4,50
2022 OPENING HOURS
From March 18 to April 20
Friday, Saturday and Sunday + holidays (April 18, 2022)
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
From April 21 to June 30
From Wednesday to Sunday + holidays (April 25, 2022)
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
Until September 18:
Everyday
10.00 – 18.30pm (last admission 18.00) *
From September 19 to September 30:
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
From October 1 to 30
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
10.00 – 18.30pm (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
From October 31 to November 2
Every day
10:00-17: 30 (last admission 17:00) *
* access to the Statue is forbidden from 13:00 to 14:00, visitors will still be able to access the Park and other spaces
WINTER CLOSURE: FROM NOVEMBER 3, 2022 UNTIL END OF FEBRUARY 2023
PLEASE,ALWAYS CHECK THE STATUE’S WEBSITE FOR COMPLETE AND UPDATED INFO ON OPENING TIMES, ADMISSION PROCEDURES AND COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
Minimum necessary visiting time: approximately 30 minutes.
ANIMALS ARE NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE GREEN AREA AND INSIDE THE STATUE.
From December 1st until the end of January, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana hosts a widespread exhibition of nativity scenes, coming from the Museo del Presepio of Dalmine
Closed for holidays from December 7 to 11 and from December 27, 2022 to January 6, 2023 included
An art installation consisting of twenty-one drawings for twenty-one refined jewels, corresponding to twenty-one characters from Raphael's cartoon. Curated by Alberto Rocca and Arnaldo Colasanti.
