The Diocesan Museum and Codex of Corigliano-Rossano: A Journey Through Sacred Art and History

The Diocesan Museum and Codex of Corigliano-Rossano, located in the province of Cosenza, is one of Calabria’s most significant cultural and spiritual landmarks — a place where art, faith, and history converge. It is world-renowned for housing an extraordinary treasure of inestimable value: the Codex Purpureus Rossanensis. Through its collection, the museum offers a fascinating journey across the centuries of Christian art and devotion.

The Codex Purpureus Rossanensis

At the heart of the museum lies the Codex Purpureus Rossanensis, a 6th-century illuminated Gospel manuscript. Written in ancient Greek on purple-dyed parchment (hence its name), it is among the oldest illustrated Gospels in existence. Its 14 full-page miniatures depicting scenes from the life of Christ are a rare and exquisite example of Byzantine art, representing one of the highest achievements of early Christian illumination.

In 2015, the Codex was inscribed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, acknowledging its universal cultural and historical value.

Beyond the Codex: A Treasury of Sacred Art

In addition to the Codex, the museum preserves around two hundred works of sacred art, which reflect the deep religious and artistic heritage of the Diocese of Rossano-Cariati. Among the highlights are:

• Paintings and sculptures, including the renowned “Tavola della Pietà” (15th century), a masterpiece of devotional art.
• Sacred goldsmithing, featuring finely crafted chalices, pyxes, monstrances, and reliquaries.
• Liturgical vestments, beautifully embroidered garments used in solemn ceremonies.
• Manuscripts and documents, offering a glimpse into the centuries-old history of the diocese.

Visitor Information

• Address: Via Arcivescovado, 5 – 87067 Corigliano-Rossano (CS)
• Contacts:
  • Tel: +39 0983 525263
  • Mobile: +39 340 4759406
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Website: www.museocodexrossano.it

Opening Hours

• Winter schedule: Tuesday–Saturday (9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. / 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.); Sundays and holidays (10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. / 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.)
• Summer schedule (July 1 – September 15): Tuesday–Sunday (9:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. / 4:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.)
• Closed on Mondays — visitors are encouraged to confirm current hours on the official website before visiting.

Tickets (2025 Rates)

• Full: €7.00
• Reduced: €5.00 (residents, groups of 20+, AMEI, FAI, and ICOM members, clergy, law enforcement, and journalists)
• Youth (7–17 years): €4.00
• Free admission: children under 7 and visitors with disabilities (plus one companion)

Cover photo credits: Michele Abastante, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0