Museum San Salvatore, Lugano-Paradiso

The San Salvatore Museum shows the history of the arch brotherhood "Buona Morte e Orazione" and houses valuable objects that have been collected over the centuries.

The & ldquo; Scuola di Santa Marta & rdquo ;, which was founded in 1513 as the Order of St. Marta came into being, today bears the name & ldquo; Arch-Brotherhood of the Good Death and Prayer & rdquo ;. The brothers used to wear a cowl made of coarse white material, with a belt and hood that covered the face and had only two holes for the eyes. They put on this habit when they accompanied those condemned to death and in the solemn processions that took place in Lugano and the surrounding area.

In the past centuries, the Brotherhood had a wide range of activities, that of faith as well as was carried by a noble and humanitarian outlook: it included all charitable works to alleviate physical and spiritual pain. A special objective connected with the founding must be underlined because it is fundamental for the brotherhood, namely the accompaniment of those sentenced to death to the place of execution. The Brothers tended to the convicts for three days, comforting them and preparing them to die. After the execution, by hanging, drowning or headed, they arranged for a mass and burial of the condemned. The centuries-old and current activity of the Arch Brotherhood is documented in its archive. Its seat was in the Santa Marta Church, by what was then the hospital, and after its demolition (1914) it was moved to the Sant'Antonio Church in Lugano. The chapter of San Lorenzo handed over the church on the San Salvatore to the Arch Brotherhood on July 10, 1680, of which it is still the owner today. The feast of the Ascension is celebrated in the beautiful oratory every year, an event that attracts many brothers and sisters from Lugano and the surrounding area.

The brotherhood also owns the house in where the museum is located: the & ldquo; Ospizio Vecchio & rdquo; (Old Hospice) was once open to the poor and hikers and was used for the spiritual rites on Ascension Day. In the course of time, numerous valuable objects were collected, which document the long religious and humanitarian activities of the Arch Brotherhood. Part of it can be seen in the small museum, which keeps the memory of a meritorious activity alive.

It also contains fossils and Minerals of the region that are witnesses to the evolution of nature.

The ticket for the Monte San Salvatore cable car includes entry to the museum.

OPENING HOURS
13.3-7.11.2010
Wednesday-Sunday
10.00-12.00/13.00-15.00

PRICES
Free entry

Address:
Museo San Salvatore
Funicolare Monte San Salvatore
CH- 6902 Paradiso/Lugano


Tel. +41 91 985 28 28
Fax +41 91 985 28 29
E-mail info@montesansalvatore.ch
URL http://www.montesansalvatore.ch

REGION: Lake Lugano Museum/Museums (Ticino)/Sights