Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

As we mentioned in a recent article, Tuscany is a region of the world that is known for her long history and rich heritage of fashion design. However, the region is also famous for its cultural contributions to the world, with theatrical and musical genres, styles, and performances being very important contributions, in particular, in the past. Opera was born in Florence and travelling theatrical troupes litter the pages of the history of the region, for example.

It makes sense then, that the world of stage and clothing were closely intertwined and lots of costumes were born in Tuscany, in order to adorn performances and complete productions. One of the most famous costumiers of all time was Arturo Cerratelli and, luckily, the work of both this man and his industrious company remains housed in an incredible museum that remains to help tell the fascinating story of theatrical dress in Tuscany. One of the more unique and (understandably) theatrical clothing museums, this amazing institution is a must-see for anyone who has found a luxury villa in San Giuliano Terme.     Read More

The seaside city of Viareggio has lots to offer visitors from delicious seafood to beautiful beaches, architectural gems to surfing spots, Carnevale celebrations to fascinating museums. Among these museums there is the Centro Matteucci per l’Arte Moderna, which regularly hosts excellent curations of works of art and is currently showcasing a particularly interesting exhibition called, “L’Eterna Musa.” If you have an interest in a seaside getaway in Tuscany with an artistic and cultural twist, then just find a luxury villa in Viareggio and come discover for yourself all that it has to offer!

“L’Eterna Musa” (“The Eternal Muse”), is an exhibition of 40 works of art from the 19th and 20th centuries, each of which depicts a different woman. These women come from a variety of backgrounds and places, from nobles to peasants, mothers to girls, housewives to workers. In showcasing these female figures, the exhibition explores the transformation of female roles in society and the ways in which the depiction of women has changed throughout the centuries.     Read More

Tuscany is a famous fashion destination and has produced some of the world’s most famous and beloved clothing brands, including Gucci and Ferragamo. This heritage and tradition stretches far back into history and, as a result, the region is also home to lots of different fashion museums. You can visit the museums of those aforementioned big fashion houses in Florence, the grand Costume Gallery (a fashion museum that is part of the impressive Palazzo Pitti complex), the Textile Museum in Prato, and more. However, one of the lesser-known, but nonetheless exceptional, examples of a fashion museum in Tuscany is located in the town of Stia, in the lovely Casentino Valley. If you have found a vacation rental in Casentino and are exploring the area, be sure to come to Stia to see the pretty town, visit her unique Wool Museum, and learn all about the heritage of wool production in the area.     Read More

Located in the Province of Siena,Colle di Val d’Elsa is a pretty medieval town that is not far from the historic via Francigena and was, therefore, a pit-stop for travellers and pilgrims for centuries. Like many cities in Tuscany, it was once a centre of artistic and artisanal production but, unlike most of its neighbours, remains that way to this day. It continues to be the Italian capital of crystal and, as such, has been nicknamed the “Bohemia of Italy.” In fact, Colle di Val d’Elsa accounts for 95% of all Italian crystal glass production and 14% of the global production of crystal, which is an incredible feat.

Due to this scale and the economic importance of the craft in the town, it remains central to life for locals, with the first Sunday of each month playing host to a crystal market in town and open-air demonstrations of glass-making (from around 3pm) in the historical centre of the city on Via della Misericordia. In addition, there is also a rather special museum dedicated to the craft, the Museum of Crystal of Colle di Val d'Elsa, which puts these incredible objects on display. If you have found a holiday rental in Siena and are spending time exploring the province, set aside some time to get a little bit off the beaten tourist path and come enjoy the peace and beauty of this amazing town and its rich cultural history. You might even pick up a piece of crystal as a special and lovely souvenir of your time in this beautiful part of the world.     Read More