The former convent of Saints Nicolò and Domenico is one of the most significant building for art and history in the old town centre of Imola. The construction dates back to the 13th century and it was the headquarters of the Dominican order till 18th century.

It has suffered many reconstructions, renovations and devastations. The restoration and its transformation into a museum has allowed to recover the original architecture of the convent and to identify the historical uses as the chapter, the dormitories with their cells, the kitchen, the granaries, the cellars, etc..

The visitors can discover the monument and its history through an itinerary that highlights its art and architecture restored. It’s also possible to go into the pulpit of the church where you can understand the original entirety of the building.

Finally the pulpit gives an unique sight of the church of Saint Domenico, where you can admire also a masterpiece of Ludovico Carracci. The “City of Imola art collections ”is a visitor’s itinerary from the Fourteenth century to the present.

It consists of over 600works of art and items in a diversity of medium including paintings, sculptures, liturgical furnishings, ceramics, drawings, coins and medals and site specifics works.

The pieces are divided into seven main topics which are chapters of the Imola’s art and culture history. Works and objects different for origin, quality, and rarity tell the same story and highlight places, artists, events, local products, tastes and lifestyles of the city and its land. The itinerary offers a new interpretation of the civic art collections and it is also an observatory on contemporary artistic production of the city. The “Giuseppe Scarabelli Museum” bears the name of the scientist who founded it in 1857when he donated the city the “Cabinet of Natural History” to become an active place of study and scientific research.

Its latest transfer to the Museum of San Domenico has allowed for the design of a new set-up, respectful of the heritage of Scarabelli and updated on contemporary communication and the new exhibition modes. The first part of the visitor’s itinerary tells the story of the museum and displays also the following donations that enriched it during its long life. This section also shows ethnographic items from Africa and South America and an Egyptian mummy.

The second part of the itinerary consists of the over 25,000 artefacts that formed the nineteenth-century museum. They are displayed in the original showcases and are divided into three itineraries: “Geology”, “Archaeology” and “Natural Sciences”. You can enhance your visit using the museum's tablets or your mobile devices.