Continuing on from our previous post, here are some more bizarre and wonderful attractions in Tuscany that are absolute must-sees. Once you have found your perfect luxury villa in Tuscany and are looking to explore the region, be sure to look past the obvious and find the weird and fascinating that is hiding in plain sight.
4. Tuttomondo by Keith Haring, Pisa
Art and Italy are somewhat synonymous and there is no shortage of artworks to be found in Tuscany, in particular. However, most of these are housed in galleries, inside churches and palaces and in typical enclosed or public spaces. Keith Haring's “Tuttomondo” mural, meanwhile, is located out in the open, on the side of a church in Pisa.
4. Tuttomondo by Keith Haring, Pisa
Art and Italy are somewhat synonymous and there is no shortage of artworks to be found in Tuscany, in particular. However, most of these are housed in galleries, inside churches and palaces and in typical enclosed or public spaces. Keith Haring's “Tuttomondo” mural, meanwhile, is located out in the open, on the side of a church in Pisa.
Painted in 1989, shortly before the artist died prematurely in 1990, the work was executed when Haring was already beginning to fall sick due to HIV-related complications. The mural was produced in collaboration with the students of Caparol Center, the suppliers of the acrylic tempera paint, and is based around the theme of peace and harmony in the world.
Located on the side of the old convent of S. Antonio, it is beautiful and vibrant to this day, and free to visit. It really is a rather unique and extraordinary thing, a mural by a gay HIV-positive artist painted on the side of a Catholic building. A visit is a must for art-lovers exploring Pisa and the Keith Café across the road serves as the perfect place to sit, grab a bite and examine the work more closely.
Located on the side of the old convent of S. Antonio, it is beautiful and vibrant to this day, and free to visit. It really is a rather unique and extraordinary thing, a mural by a gay HIV-positive artist painted on the side of a Catholic building. A visit is a must for art-lovers exploring Pisa and the Keith Café across the road serves as the perfect place to sit, grab a bite and examine the work more closely.
5. Galileo's Middle Finger, Museo Galileo, Florence
Located in Piazza dei Giudici, not far from the Uffizi, is Palazzo Castellani. An eleventh century building, it takes its name from its last private owners, the Castellani family, but has been home to the Museo Galileo since 1930. It displays an important collection of scientific instruments from the 13th century onwards and sheds light on the scientific tradition of Florence that is sometimes forgotten in favour of its artistic heritage. One particularly unusual item in the collection, however, is Galileo's middle finger. Removed by Anton Francesco Gori on March 12, 1737, 95 years after Galileo’s death, it was passed around for a couple hundred years and eventually ended up in the museum's collection. In 2009 two more fingers and a tooth belonging to Galileo were discovered at an auction and are now all on display in bell jars.
For more unique and strange attractions in Tuscany, be sure to read the following posts and compile your list of things to add to your Tuscan itinerary.
Located in Piazza dei Giudici, not far from the Uffizi, is Palazzo Castellani. An eleventh century building, it takes its name from its last private owners, the Castellani family, but has been home to the Museo Galileo since 1930. It displays an important collection of scientific instruments from the 13th century onwards and sheds light on the scientific tradition of Florence that is sometimes forgotten in favour of its artistic heritage. One particularly unusual item in the collection, however, is Galileo's middle finger. Removed by Anton Francesco Gori on March 12, 1737, 95 years after Galileo’s death, it was passed around for a couple hundred years and eventually ended up in the museum's collection. In 2009 two more fingers and a tooth belonging to Galileo were discovered at an auction and are now all on display in bell jars.
For more unique and strange attractions in Tuscany, be sure to read the following posts and compile your list of things to add to your Tuscan itinerary.
Photo credits
picture 1: Sailko / CC BY 2.5;
picture 3: Plindenbaum / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: Sailko / CC BY 2.5;
picture 3: Plindenbaum / CC BY-SA 3.0
