Tuscany is an area steeped in history. With plenty of museums in Tuscany to discover, you will find plenty to broaden your mind. There are so many museums in Tuscany that we could never hope to provide an exhaustive list of those to visit during your Tuscany villa holiday. However, this list will give you information on some of the best museums that the region’s principal cities have to offer. Think of it as a helpful starting point to your Tuscany villa holiday planning.
The Museo delle Sinopie houses the monochrome sketches for the frescoes of the Camposanto.
Housing an array of statues and paintings by artists such as Pisano is the Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo. It’s open daily throughout the year.
If you’re heading to Siena, you should try to see the following museums and attractions. Further information and tickets can be purchased at the Siena comune website. Discounts are given if you buy multiple tickets at once. As a result, it usually makes sense to pick up a pass or joint ticket (biglietto cumulativo). This will provide entry to several sites.
First on the list is the Museo Civico located in the Palazzo Publico. Open throughout the year, it’s full of wonderful works of art from past centuries. Be aware that it has shorter opening times in the winter months.
Opposite the Museo Civico is the Torre del Mangia. With over 500 steps to climb to reach the top of the tower, it’s one that will certainly test your fitness levels. But the views from the top are well worth it!
The Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo houses works by, amongst others, Pisano and Duccio. Don’t miss the entrance to the Panorama dal Facciatone once in the museum. This leads you up a spiral staircase out of the top of the building. Once again, you are rewarded with terrific views of the city from the top.
Finally, if in Siena, check out the Museo Diocesano. This museum houses an array of devotional art from the 13th to the 17th century.
Admission to the state museums in Florence is free for all EU citizens under the age of 18 or over the age of 65. You’ll need to take your passport with you to qualify for free entry though. In addition, 18-25 year olds get a 50% discount on admission prices as do teachers!
For those not lucky enough to qualify for free admission to the Florence museums, you may want to invest in an ‘Amici degli Uffizi’ card. It’s not cheap but it is valid for a year. The card also gives you unlimited access (with no queuing) not just to the Uffizi but also to the other of Florence’s state museums.
Another top tip is to check opening times of the Florence museums before you go. Many of the museums are closed on Mondays. Plus, opening hours do vary depending on the time of year.
First and foremost, the Uffizi Gallery must surely rank as Italy’s best art gallery. Certainly, the staggering number of visitors each year reflects this. Visitors are keen to get a glimpse of works of art by, amongst others, Giotto, Paolo Uccello and Masolini. Not to mention works by Piero della Francesca, Boticelli, Michelangelo, Titian, Rubens, Van Dyck and Leonardo da Vinci.
The exquisite inner courtyards and chambers of the Palazzo Vecchio also house a staggering collection of works of art.
The copy of Michelangelo’s David is in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. However, you’ll find the original in the Accademia Gallery along with other wonderful works of art.
The Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo includes works by Donatello, Michelangelo and others.
And the Museo Nazionale del Bargello is certainly another ‘must see’ during your stay. It also houses a wonderful sculpture collection.
The Museo di Santa Maria Novella is yet another museum housing yet more remarkable works of art.
Open daily, except on Tuesdays, the Museo del Bigallo it’s not the best of the museums in Florence but will interest some.
Breaking from art, the Museo di Storia della Scienza is Florence’s science museum. It’s home to many of Galileo’s original instruments.
Not far away, the Alinari Photography Museum is dedicated to the history of photography. The museum contains hundreds of thousands of vintage prints and numerous photographic instruments.
The Museo Marino Marini displays around 200 works of art left to the city of Florence in Marini’s will.
We have art historian Herbert Percy Horne to thank for the Museo della Fondazione Horne. It displays the art collection he built up over the course of his lifetime.
Like the Horne museum, the Museo Bardini was also built around the bequest of a private collector. This time the collector was Stefano Bardini who was most the most important art dealer in Italy.
Next on the list is the Museo di San Marco. A gallery within the museum houses one of the most important collections of Fra Angelico’s work. In addition, it’s home to the works of some of his pupils.
If you want to escape the crowds, the Museo Archeologico is one of quieter of the museums in Florence. It houses Etruscan, Roman, Greek and Egyptian collections.
Or if you’re in search of more contemporary art than many of Florence’s museums display, head to the Galleria d’Arte Moderna and Galleria Palatina in the Palazzo Pitti. Founded in 1914, the museum’s collection includes works of art from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Also in the Palazzo Pitti is the Museo degli Argenti (Silver Museum) displaying the beautiful collections of the Medici family.
Next is the Museum of Anthropology where you’ll find an interesting collection of artefacts from different cultures around the world as well as an extensive bone collection.
Finally you have the Museum of Natural History (La Specola): The museum contains 24 rooms dedicated to zoology and a further 10 to anatomic waxes. Those dedicated to zoology are crammed full of specimens preserved through the use of taxidermy.
