Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

Tuscany really is impossibly beautiful. There is just so much to see and do and so much of it is made up of some of the most beautiful galleries, buildings, works of art and views in the world. Of course, there really are endless lists of excellent things to see and do so, in order to help you out, here are more of this author's picks of the most photogenic sights in Tuscany that you'll want to visit and then capture forever.

7. The Uffizi

The Uffizi is one of the leading art galleries in the world and for good reason. It is a must-see for the countless masterpieces that are housed inside of it but it is also quite the photogenic beauty in its own right. There is almost too much to see, which can lead to a bit of sensory overload. When I took a moment to just wander and not try and see everything for a second, I found myself strolling around behind my parents and I got this photograph.

Florence is known for her museums and the Medici, in particular, were instrumental in building, and leaving behind, the extraordinary wealth of priceless artworks that live in the city today. However, in addition to their collecting of art, they also assembled a vast selection of natural specimens such as fossils, animals, minerals and plants. These examples and a large collections of books are held today in the Museum of Natural History.

Opened to the public in 1775 by Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo, it was originally comprised of several natural history collections housed within the Palazzo Torrigiani on Via Romana. It has grown immensely over the centuries and is now one of the finest collections in the country.

Textile production has been an important industry in Prato for over 800 years and has an excellent museum dedicated to the history of textiles in the city called the Museo del Tessuto (or Prato Textile Museum). Located in a former trimming factory called Campolmi within the medieval city walls of Prato, the museum has been in existence for four decades and is one of the best museums in Italy for fashion and textile history.

The collection contains over 6,000 objects, including archaeological textiles, medieval vestments, embroidery from the 15th-20th centuries, and equipment for every part of textile production. A permanent exhibition in the museum is organized by theme: the heater room, the room of antique textiles, the raw material and its processes, Prato, the city of Textiles, Prato and Fashion, and an area dedicated to modern material and a room for temporary exhibitions.

Palazzo Blu is one of Tuscany's artistic highlights, an excellent art museum located in the historic heart of Pisa. It houses both a permanent collection and important temporary exhibitions throughout the year in a beautiful former palace. Permanent artists include Artemisia and Orazio Gentileschi, Benozzo Gozzoli and Umberto Vittorini and recent temporary exhibitions have included works by the likes of Dali and Lautrec in the past year. The Palazzo Blu which has become more and more well-known for its world-class exhibitions and has been put on the map as a must-see museum for art lovers visiting Tuscany. At the moment, there is another incredible temporary exhibition on until the new year and it is just one more reason to find a luxury villa in Pisa and visit that extraordinary city!

From October 13 to January 28, Palazzo Blu will be home to “Escher. Oltre il possibile”, (“Escher – Beyond possibility”) an exhibition of the work of 20th century artist Maurits Cornelis Escher (or M. C. Escher), a Dutch graphic artist who made mathematically inspired woodcuts, lithographs, and mezzotints.

The Uffizi Gallery, in Florence, is one of the most extraordinary museums in the world and we have published various posts on the gallery itself, tips on visiting it and lists of highlights of the collections. However, there are also singular highlights, specific works, from the collection that deserve more of a word count and more consideration. One such piece is Artemisia Gentileschi's “Judith Slaying Holofernes”. One of the rare female painters of her time, a gifted artist and a fascinating person, she is an intriguing (and often overlooked) figure and this work, in particular, is intertwined with her life story and, thus, especially interesting. Just find a vacation rental in Florence, visit the gallery and make a point of seeking out this wonderful work of art.