Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

There are some museums that are perhaps too niche for some but absolutely fascinating to others. A great example of this is the Museum of Straw and Straw Weaving (Museo della Paglia e dell’Intreccio) in Signa, which celebrates the long tradition of hat-making in Tuscany and in Signa, in particular. For some, that may seem a little too specific and not particularly interesting but serious fashion-lovers who are interested in the incredible history of clothes-making and of trend-setting and style and the vibrant heritage of crafts that are still very much alive in Tuscany, it is sure to be of interest. If you have found a luxury villa in Florence but you're looking for a great day-trip destination then a visit to the pretty town of Signa is a wonderful idea and if you're one of those fashion-obsessed visitors to Florence, the town's history of hat-making and the museum that is dedicated to this heritage is a must-see while there!

The Domenico Michelacci Museum of Straw and Straw Weaving in Signa is located in the municipal building in town that also houses the municipal library and the historical archive. Signa, of course, is the perfect setting for such a museum as this old artisanal tradition dates back centuries upon centuries in the town. In fact, by the 16th century, the weaving of straw had become so refined and perfected in Tuscany that the Grand Duke Cosimo I is known to have sent examples of locally-made hats as gifts to sovereigns of kingdoms all over Europe. By the beginning of the 18th century, the woven goods and hats of Signa had become so sought after that local farmers began producing wheat that was exclusively grown to create straw for hat-making and not for consumption. As a result, Florence and the surrounding area, including Signa, became the biggest producer of quality straw hats in all of western Europe.

The vast and incredible Renaissance palace that is the Palazzo Pitti in Florence is surrounded by the famous Boboli Gardens and is a truly remarkable architectural gem. However, in addition to being an exceptional tourist attraction and piece of cultural heritage in its own right, the Palazzo Pitti is also home to the Palatine Gallery, the Silver Museum, the Gallery of Modern Art, and several other gallery spaces and exhibitions. If you have found a luxury villa in Florence and are interested in art, architecture, culture, and history, it is a one-stop shop for some of the richest and most interesting collections in the world.

While Florence is truly synonymous with the Renaissance we do recommend, however, that you take the time to visit the Gallery of Modern Art at the Palazzo Pitti, in particular, and take in some incredible works of art from the 19th century onwards. Located since 1922 on the second floor of the palace in rooms along the façade of the building that were once home to the Medici's library and along the side wings where various rooms were used for the children of the family and retainers, the museum was founded in 1914.

San Gimignano is famous as the Tuscan city of Medieval skyscrapers, a place where nobles competed in building the highest towers. While the town was once full of these extraordinary architectural gems, only a few examples exist today and they are the attraction that most immediately go to see when visiting the city. However, if you have found a luxury villa in San Gimignano and are taking a closer look at all this picturesque and historic gem has to offer then we suggest you also look past the ancient and iconic and see what is happening in the contemporary world of art and design and the here and now because, among those winding Medieval streets, you will find one of the world’s most respected contemporary art galleries.

The Galleria Continua is very much the definition of a hidden gem, something one would never expect in an old cinema in the historic core of San Gimignano but is definitely a gem nonetheless. Founded in 1990 by three friends, Mario Cristiani, Lorenzo Fiaschi, and Maurizio Rigillo, the gallery has grown in scale and reputation in the thirty years since its inauguration and now also has locations in Les Moulins (just outside Paris), Havana (Cuba), Beijing (China), and Rome. Having showcased works by globally-renowned talents like Ai Weiwei, Ethel Adnan, The Kabakovs, and Michelangelo Pistoletto, it truly is an extraordinary gallery to stumble across in a small town!

If you have found a vacation rental in Pisa and are planning a trip in the area, you'll likely be looking into what there is to see and do in and around Pisa. While the pretty and historic city itself has its famous Leaning Tower (in a complex of other fascinating religious buildings), cute little streets lined with restaurants and shops, some great museums, and much more besides, the surrounding landscape is also beautiful and full of gems and well worth exploring. For example, just ten kilometres from town you will find the little town of Calci, located on the foothills of the Monte Pisano hillside, which is home to the breathtaking Calci Charterhouse.

The Charterhouse of Pisa (or Certosa di Pisa), more often referred to as the Calci Charterhouse in English, is a stunning architectural complex that is a former Carthusian monastery, or charterhouse, and is home to two different museums today: National Museum of the Monumental Charterhouse of Calci and the Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa. If you're fond of frescoes, architectural prowess, dinosaurs, pretty gardens, and more, this is somewhere to see all of the above under (and adjacent to) one roof.

If the English-speaking world has Shakespeare then the Italian-speaking world has Dante Alighieri, a name familiar to many worldwide in connection to his most famous work, his so-called, “Divine Comedy,” as it is referred to in English. One of the defining works of literature throughout history, this incredibly important and influential piece is a beloved tome around the globe and many Dante-lovers hope to one day visit Tuscany and see many of the things and places that he described in his great tale of an epic journey through the afterlife. If you have found a luxury villa in Florence and you are an admirer of Dante's then there is one attraction that is, without a doubt, an absolute must-see: the Museum of the House of Dante Alighieri.

The Museum of the House of Dante Alighieri, or the House of Dante, is a medieval building located in one of the oldest parts of the historic core of the city on the street of Santa Margherita. This building, while not actually the house in which he was born, is located in the area between the Church of Saint Martino and the Piazza dei Donati that documents note was where the Alighieri family lived at the time, in the 13th century, and, though it had to be restored from a somewhat dilapidated state at the beginning of the 20th century when the museum was first planned, it largely maintains its appearance from Dante's lifetime. It was, therefore, decided upon as the best place to house a museum dedicated to the Father of the Italian Language, and is now one of the most important literary museums in the city.