Exhibition "Habitus Fidei The Robes of the Confraternities: a Journey through Art, History and Faith"

Confraternities originated as lay associations as early as the 7th century, and spread from the Middle Ages and the Modern Age to the present day (in Europe, there are still over thirty thousand confraternities with approximately six million members). Their purpose is to promote the religious life of their members – brothers and sisters – through penance, works of mercy and public worship. The latter is expressed in particular through processions: these are often ancient traditions, but still very much alive, attended by numerous faithful, curious onlookers and tourists. Some of these processions have been listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, for example the Holy Week processions in Mendrisio, or the network of Italian processions involving large structures carried on the shoulders, also known as “grandi macchine a spalla” (great shoulder-borne machines).

The confraternity habit is reminiscent of the baptismal garment, with which a person adheres to the faith and wants to become like Christ: hence the title of the exhibition - Habitus Fidei - which in Latin indicates both the garments of faith and the virtue of faith.

The habit – also known as a sackcloth – is usually very simple: it is an outer garment worn by members when carrying out the activities of the confraternity. It is usually complemented by a hood, a belt, a cloak and a medallion. The outfit may also include a hat, gloves, shoes, a staff and other garments and accessories. The colours of the robe often symbolically indicate the nature of the confraternity and its possible connection to a religious order.

The exhibition arrives in Lugano after first stopping in Pisa, hosted at the Museo della Grafica in Palazzo Lanfranchi (belonging to the University and Municipality of Pisa) and at the Museo Nazionale di San Matteo, then in Lucca, inside the Church and Baptistery of Santi Giovanni e Reparata. At each stop, the contents were adapted to the specific characteristics of the location and the local confraternities.
In Lugano, it will be hosted at Villa Ciani from 8 to 23 November 2025 and will focus on the clothing of the Ticino confraternities and their important role in the religious and social history of the area.

The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the theme of clothing and its meaning in Christian tradition.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to converse – in Italian, French, German or English – with the avatar of a brother who is an expert in history and confraternity clothing, reconstructed using generative artificial intelligence.

The exhibition is curated by Professor Lorenzo Cantoni of USI and Professor Alessandro Tosi of the University of Pisa. The Lugano edition is co-curated by Dr Davide Adamoli, scientific collaborator at the Historical Archives of the Diocese of Lugano and author of a doctoral thesis on the confraternities of Ticino, carried out at the University of Fribourg.

The exhibition is open
• to the public every day, including Saturdays and Sundays, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
• for schools or groups, with guided tours by appointment:

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 9:00 to 15:00
• Wednesday, from 9:00 to 12:00
• On Tuesdays, guided tours are in German and English, on other days in Italian and English

Visits for schools and groups can be booked on the website.