Established in 1982 by the will of the Fabbriceria del Tempio and the Civic Museums - of which it represents a collection - the Museum of the Basilica della Ghiara preserves and enhances the artistic heritage of the Basilica , an important Marian temple and a very high example of seventeenth-century Emilian art, with by Carracci, Guercino, Tiarini and others. The museum exhibits part of the objects received at the Temple as a sign of devotion : the construction of the Sanctuary is in fact linked to the miraculous events that occurred in relation to an image of the Madonna and Child painted on the walls of the convent of Servi di Maria. The best-known episode concerns Marchino, a deaf-mute and tongueless child who, praying in front of the image, acquired the gift of speech.

The museum is made up of 4 rooms : the iconographic room preserves the sinopia of the miraculous image and other works. The first room displays silverware and goldsmithery, including the important seventeenth-century candlesticks (still used) donated by Duke Francesco I d'Este during the plague. The second room preserves, among ancient and precious gifts, the sketch by Lelio Orsi of 1569 for the restoration of the Marian image.

Room III houses the civic and religious emblem of the Basilica: the Crown donated by the Community of Reggio in 1674 for the many graces received.