The Museum of Chinese Art was begun in 1900 on the expressed wish of Monsignir Conforti, the founder of the Saveriani missionaries. His idea was to help promote the ethos and culture experienced by missionaries and so devised the Museum of Chinese Art. Conforti hoped, through the exhibits, to introduce the public to Chinese history; these include collections of ceramics, bronze, pictures, and other items in everyday use. Artefacts are displayed from countries connected to the Saveriani missionaries such as Asia, Japan, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Columbia, Africa, Burundi, Congoo, Chad, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, and Mozambique.