Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

If you're in the artistic centre and birthplace of the Renaissance that is Florence, you're probably planning a visit to the Uffizi Gallery, or Galleria degli Uffizi, in Piazza della Signoria. Should this be the case, there are a few things that you may want to bear in mind first.

One of the oldest and most famous art museums in Europe and the world, the Uffizi was originally begun under Vasari for Cosimo I de' Medici in 1560. The name comes from the Italian word for “offices” which is what the building was intended to house when it was first constructed.     Read More

2015 is the Year of Archaeology in Tuscany. This basically means that for the next few months major and minor museums around Tuscany will be putting on special exhibits and organising special events in order to promote the archaeological heritage of the region. If you are a history fanatic, you may want to find yourself a luxury villa in the area and experience the celebration of archaeological discovery for yourself.

The event which opens the year's events schedule is an exhibition at the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence. Launched on March 14th and continuing through to June 21st, it is entitled “Power and Pathos - Bronze sculpture of the Hellenistic world.”     Read More

The ancient town of Chiusi in Siena, Tuscany is beyond picturesque with its rich architectural heritage and hilltop location overlooking the stunning Val di Chiana. Chiusi, which dates back to 1000 BC was once one of the most important cities in the Etruscan empire. However, by the 3rd century BC it had become merely a Roman province and not one of the 12 leading cities of a federation. Under Charlemagne it was made into a country in its own right. Then its fortune took a turn again and it became a battlefield between Florence and Siena until the tensions between those two great cities and kingdoms calmed in the 19th century.     Read More

The picturesque town of Sorano may have Etruscan roots but it is characterised by its medieval historic town centre and dominated by the great Orsini Fortress and Castle, a perfect example of Renaissance military architecture.

This structure has evolved and changed over the years into the complex which exists today. Its history is rich and complex and it makes a wonderful place to visit.

The complex of buildings now includes a hotel, museum, chapel, the theatre of Count Niccolo IV Orsini and a secondary school specialising in languages.     Read More