Many, when browsing among our Tuscany villas, end up deciding to book one of our villas in Pisa, which is completely and utterly understandable. Pisa, as a holiday destination, has so much to offer a visitor: visits to the impossibly famous and iconic landmark of the city that is the Leaning Tower of Pisa, trips into the stunning rolling hills and lush plains of the surrounding typical and picture-perfect Tuscan landscape, days tasting wine at any of the large number of nearby vineyards, strolls through the pretty and historic centre of the city, time playing in the water at the nearby beaches of the Tuscan Coast or hiking in the nature parks and reserves that are close by, attending the local festivals and celebrations that take place throughout the year, exploring the endless architectural gems of the city, and trips to the range of incredible museums that can be found in Pisa. Among these museums, many of which we have mentioned before, there is the National Museum of San Matteo, a must-see treasure trove of gorgeous objects and works of art for those who snag one of our amazing holiday rentals in Pisa.
The National Museum of San Matteo, or Museo Nazionale di San Matteo, is actually considered one of the most important museums in Europe in terms of medieval art. Located in the medieval former Benedictine convent of San Matteo, in the square of San Matteo in Soarta, overlooking the Arno, it is a gorgeous architectural gem in its own right. This lovely building in which the collection is housed boasts both an elegant Pisan Romanesque façade and a classical façade, through which can find the main entrance to the museum, as well as a beautiful medieval cloister at the core of the building. Just wandering around this charming structure, which represents several architectural styles from throughout the centuries, is a delight in its own right. However, the collections inside this charming historic ecclesiastical building are the real star of the show.
These aforementioned collections include the works of Pisan and Tuscan master artists from the 12th to the 17th century, archaeological finds, ceramic works, illuminated manuscripts with stunning and elaborate illustrations, wooden religious sculptures, precious jewels, medieval coins, altarpieces, and more. The Pisan pieces from the 12th and 13th centuries are known to be of exceptional quality and display the incredible prowess and importance of the Pisan school during this period. In addition to the important overview of art and craftsmanship in Pisa and Tuscany, generally, that is afforded by the National Museum of San Matteo’s collection, there are also plenty of important and famous names represented in the museum with sculptural masterpieces by the likes of Nicola Pisano and Donatello and paintings by Simone Martini, Lippo Memmi, Masaccio, and Ghirlandaio.
One can trace the origins of this spectacular museum in Pisa all the way back to the 18th century and to an endowment by the Canon of the Pisa Cathedral, Sebastiano Zucchetti, in 1796. With the closure of many religious institutions in the surrounding area by Napoleon and through the work of the Academy of Fine Arts, this collection continued to amass pieces from a variety of sources. Then, in 1893, a local man named Igino Benvenuto Supino helped found the Pisan Museo Civico. The final piece of the puzzle for the establishment of the National Museum of San Matteo as we know it today was securing its home. After WWII, the former convent was restored and became home to the museum in 1949 thanks to the work of another local, Piero Sanpaolesi.
Despite the incredible quality of the collection and the beautiful setting in which the National Museum of San Matteo is located, it is actually a lesser-known gem and museum among most international tourists who come to spend time in the city. So, if you find a vacation rental in Pisa and you happen to decide to pay a visit to this gem – among that long list of truly wonderful tourist attractions and cultural hot spots in the city that you could choose to enjoy while on vacation in the area – you are likely to find that it is usually not overly packed or busy. In fact, you are unlikely to encounter many other tourists at all throughout your visit to this museum, giving you plenty of time to truly take in and admire the remarkable objects and works of art that are on display inside its walls. The extraordinary National Museum of San Matteo in Pisa is just one more reason, therefore, beyond the city’s more incomparably famous, but no more or less impressive attractions, to choose a Pisa at your destination during your next vacation in Tuscany. For cultural riches beyond compare, Pisa is a perfect holiday location and a serious must for any discerning culture vultures looking for their next getaway spot.
National Museum of San Matteo
Piazza San Matteo In Soarta, 1, 56127 Pisa PI, Italy
+39 050 541865
drm-tos.museosanmatteo@cultura.gov.it
Opening hours:
From Tuesday to Saturday, admission can only be allowed at 9.00 11.30, 15.30, or 17.30.
On Sundays and on holidays, admission to the museum is permitted at 9.00 and 11.30.
Please note: The museum is closed on Mondays and on the 1st of January and the 25th of December.
Tickets:
Full price - €5.00
Reduced price - €2.00.
For a combined ticket that also includes entrance to the Royal Palace Museum in Pisa:
Full price - €8.00
Reduced price - €4.00.
