Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

When you arrive on the Tuscan island of exile and paradise, Elba, you will usually first find yourself in the town of Portoferraio. A cultural and natural gem, it looks a little frozen in time and is utterly charming and picturesque. The capital of the island under Napoleonic times, its name means “Iron Port” and comes from the iron mills that facilitated the city's growth into the main shipping port of iron ore towards the mainland in the 19^th century. This was further bolstered by the presence of Napoleon himself who briefly lived nearby when he was exiled to the island in 1814. During his stay, he set up infrastructure around the mills, economic reforms that modernised the island and architectural projects that heightened its beauty. His very presence drew curious types from all over and Elba suddenly became much more multi-cultural and a melting pot for ideas. This same legacy still draws many to visit this beautiful and fascinating island. Just find a vacation rental on the Tuscan Coast and you can join their number and see what all the fuss is about for yourself as well.

Napoleon was very famously temporarily exiled, after his forced abdication in 1814, to the island of Elba, the idyllic Tuscan island that is the third largest in Italy – hardly what most would call a “punishment”! In fact, he lived very well on the island and even had two different dwellings for the 300 days that he spent there. Villa dei Mulini was one and the other was Villa San Martin. Villa dei Mulini, also known as Palazzina dei Mulini (Palace of the Mills), is located in Portoferraio and was chosen by Napoleon as his state residence.

In the town of Carmignano there is a large public park called the Quinto Martini Park Museum that displays an exceptional and beautiful range of bronze sculptures by the Italian artist, Quinto Martini, which were made between 1931 and 1988.

This lovely outdoor space acts as both a park and open-air museum and is free for anyone to visit. It is the perfect place to spend a little while wandering around, taking in the artworks and getting some fresh air. It is a million miles away from the long lines and stuffier atmosphere of many museums throughout the region and is a little more unique.

Any art lovers planning a trip to Tuscany should find a luxury villa in Carmignano and make time to experience this distinctive art installation for themselves.

There is never a lack of exhibitions happening at any given moment in time in Florence. However, some are a little more special than others whether the pieces are on loan from all over the world, have never been seen together, gain new meaning in an entirely new setting or have rarely been seen before. It is the latter reason that makes an exhibition currently running in the Pitti Palace so special.

“Rigour and Grace” sees pieces that are rarely on display being opened to the public in their home in the Palatine Chapel which is, likewise, rarely seen. For the next few months, this beautiful and exclusive space is being opened for visits. If you have found your luxury villa in Florence and are planning on visiting before May 17th, be sure to drop by the chapel.

The Diocesan Museum, recently renamed the Mudas Museum, is home to important paintings of the fifteenth-nineteenth centuries, three large and rare wooden crucifixes, a fresco by Bartolomeo della Gatta and an important collection of works by Vasari.

Located in the Bishop’s Palace of Arezzo, it has a rather exceptional little collection and is a must-see for art-lovers who have found a vacation rental in Arezzo and are spending time exploring the city.

The museum embodies the great history and wealth of artistic and cultural heritage in the city, particularly the Church's involvement in the funding and creation of art.