Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

Tuscany is home to some world-famous museums and galleries as well as churches and palaces with extraordinary collections that are known the world over and are immediate must-sees for those planning a vacation in Tuscany or to find a Tuscany villa. However, these well-known spots are not the only places to go to see art while in Tuscany. In fact, one might stumble across all kinds of incredible masterpieces all throughout the region from the Keith Haring mural painted on the side of an old church in Pisa to the examples of contemporary street art that dot cities such as Florence to random little chapels and tiny local museums that boast works by famous Old Masters. Or, you might find that a regional museum is playing host to a travelling exhibition or temporary loan of some astounding pieces from some of those more famous museums. One example of just such a regional museum and just such an exhibition is the Ex Cavallerizza in Lucca in the Piazzle Verdi, located in the stunning and historic city of Lucca, which is playing host to the, "I Pittori della Luce / Painters of Light," exhibition. Browse our villas with pools in Lucca and get booking today to see it for yourself this summer or in the early autumn before it closes!

Tuscany is famously a destination for art-lovers and a hub of extraordinary art works, galleries, museums, churches stuffed with incredible pieces of art, public statuary and sculpted fountains, astounding architectural gems and much more besides. Much of this can be traced back to the remarkable outpouring of world-famous artistic talents throughout the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and art movements from the following centuries such as Mannerism, Impressionism, and more as well as lingering remainders of the ancient Romans. However, though there may be fewer examples with names as famous as Giotto, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, and Caravaggio (to name but a small selection), Tuscany has also produced some incredibly famous scientists and has been a major hub of scientific discovery throughout the centuries. A vacation rental in Tuscany is, therefore, ideal for any science enthusiasts looking to learn more about both the world around them and above them!

The benefit of exploring churches throughout the region if you have found a Tuscany villa, no matter your religious affiliation or lack thereof, is that an incredible number of them house spectacular artworks by some of the most famous artists from the region throughout history. This is true of both tiny little churches that might not seem like anything from the outside and, more often of course, of the various town cathedrals throughout Tuscany. If you find a villa with pool in Siena, for example, and are spending time discovering all that beautiful and historic city has to offer, then you will likely see the ornate Gothic façade, rising tower, and central dome of the Duomo (or cathedral) from various points around the city. This might give you pause to consider the building and we highly recommend going one step further and actually planning a visit to this gem while staying in your villa in Siena. With a richly ornamented exterior and a stunning interior that boasts artworks by the likes of Pisano, Donatello, and Michelangelo, it is a wonderful reflection of the artistic heritage of Tuscany and is full of gorgeous objects and pieces of art to admire...

When one thinks of the city of Pisa or considers a villa in Pisa and holiday in this famous destination, it is hard not to immediately first think of the city’s iconic Leaning Tower. However, as it is an ancient and storied city in Tuscany, there is a rich and vibrant artistic and cultural history that goes far beyond just one building. Those who have found a villa with pool in Pisa and are taking the time to see all that she has to offer will quickly discover many more wonderful architectural gems, fascinating churches with incredible frescoes and art objects, museums, and, even, a famous mural by the beloved artist Keith Haring.

This work, “Tuttomondo,” was painted in 1989, shortly before the artist died prematurely in 1990 due to complications related to HIV, the work was made in collaboration with the students of Caparol Center, the suppliers of an acrylic tempera paint. Based on themes of peace and harmony in the world, it is painted on the wall of the former convent of S. Antonio and makes for a striking message of hope and possibility as this bright and colourful and unmissable thing of sheer beauty created by a gay HIV positive artist on the side of a Catholic building. Free to visit whenever you wish and located across from the Keith Café, admirers can sit for a spell with a bite to eat or a coffee or both and examine the work more closely. It is a true must-see for art-lovers and Haring fans on vacation in Pisa!

This week we have already looked at Arezzo, a city of gold and a place in which goldsmithing has gone on from the Etruscans to the present day. Workshops of artisans still dot the medieval core of the city and thousands of jewellery and gold businesses operate throughout the surrounding area. Museums display incredible works from throughout history and shops sell the latest iterations to the magpies among those on vacation in Tuscany who are after rather more special and precious souvenirs. There is also a roaring trade in both jewellery and artisanal goods to appreciate if you have found a luxury villa in Florence, nearby. However, the birthplace of the Renaissance is, in its own right, one giant jewellery box full of incredible gems from architectural masterpieces to museums stuffed with incredible works of art to churches painted and gilded meticulously. And, among all of the stunning buildings and institutions filled with astounding things made by human hands, one of the lesser-known but most extraordinary has to be the Opificio delle Pietre Dure.

The Opificio delle Pietre Dure, literally meaning the Workshop of Semi-Precious Stones, is an institution run by the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage that is based on Via degli Alfani, not far from the Cathedral or the Galleria dell’Accademia, in the centre of Florence. In addition to the museum that most visitors head to, the building is also home to one of two Italian state-run conservation schools (the other being the Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro), a specialist library, an archive, and a scientific laboratory in which research into the latest and best preventive and conservation techniques is undertaken. A global leader in the field of restoration, the institution is also home, as one might imagine, to a wonderful collection of well-preserved and incredible objects.