Turin is not the only city to have an Egyptian museum with numerous artifacts. Mummies, busts of pharaohs, and ancient scrolls—after about 10 years, the Egyptian Museum in Milan has reopened. Starting March 5, 2026, visitors can admire the collection, which includes approximately 3,000 historical artifacts, as well as follow designated paths to immerse themselves in the era of the pharaohs.
The collection of artifacts began to take shape in the 19th century, when there was a veritable boom in historical interest in ancient Egyptian civilization. From that moment on, the first artifacts arrived in Milan, at the Numismatic Cabinet and the Brera Library, before eventually ending up in the city’s collections. We’re talking about sarcophagi and papyrus fragments that caught the attention of Jean-François Champollion, the scholar who deciphered hieroglyphics, during his brief visit to the city in 1825. In the years that followed, the collection only grew richer.
What to see at the Egyptian Museum in Milan?
With so many artifacts, it’s easy to get lost in history. Among the most prestigious pieces in the collection, you’ll find the famous statue of Pharaoh Amenemhat III, which arrived in Milan thanks to excavations conducted between 1934 and 1939in the Fayum Oasis; a splendid small bronze statue depicting Osiris; and an important papyrus approximately 7 meters long, owned by the IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Foundation.
There is also no shortage of decorated sarcophagi, canopic jars, small stelae, amulets, and ushabti that recount the long history of ancient Egypt, from the fourth millennium BCE to the fifth century CE. The new exhibition layout displays approximately 330 artifacts to the public, organized into six themed sections:
- Life in Ancient Egypt
- Living with the Gods
- Life in the Afterlife
- Milan in Egypt
- Greco-Roman Egypt
- Coptic Egypt
Location, tickets, and hours
The Egyptian Museum of Milan is located inside the Castello Sforzesco, specifically in the Egyptian Section of the Civic Archaeological Museum, housed in the ancient Visconti halls (or ducal halls) of the Ducal Court. It is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with last admission at 5:00 PM. Full-price tickets cost €5, whilereduced-price ticketscost only €3 and can be purchased at the ticket office or on the official website.
The ticket is valid for the entire day and grants access to all the museums of the Castello Sforzesco, with a single entry per section. Finally, guided tours are available every weekend without the need for a reservation, at a cost of €20 (ticket included in the price). On Sundays, starting at 11:00 a.m., tours are held in Italian, while on Saturdays they are in English. An audio guide is also available for an additional cost of €5.