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
Wednesday to 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 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
Wednesday to 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 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.
The reading room will be closed for the summer break from July 25, to August 31, 2022 included. It will reopen on September 1st, Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 16.50
Rooms 2 and 3, the exhibition is the first of a series dedicated to showing us what is not normally exhibited, for a wider enhancement of the Institution's assets.
From July 1: Monday to Sunday 10.00-18.00, Closed on Wednesday
