Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

When one thinks of art in Italy, it is the grand heritage of art that first comes to mind. One pictures the museums stuffed with works by the likes of Botticelli, Titian, and Caravaggio, the grand churches with art pieces and frescoes by the likes of Michelangelo and da Vinci, and elegant palaces and villas that bring together works by endless lists of talented artisans and artists under one roof. This long-standing history and wealth of cultural heritage is, of course, to be found in Italy, but it is not all there is to offer. It might be hard to imagine at first but Italy is also home to incredible works of art that are outside these lauded institutions, works of art that anyone can enjoy at any time of day and for free. That is to say, it is home to some rather special pieces of street art.

This street art is incredibly varied in size, age, style, and more. Some pieces are even centuries-old and other pieces are being added all the time. Some are by unknowns and some are by some of the most famous names in art history. If you are planning a trip to Italy and are interested in art, be sure to also spend time outside galleries, keeping your eyes peeled for street art surprises as you explore. If you are looking for some particular highlights to specifically set aside time to visit, then these are some of our top street art picks around Italy.

Car lovers from all over the globe will know that Italy is one of the key destinations to visit over the course of your lifetime. Traditionally, Italy has produced some of the world’s favourite cars as well as some of the world’s most desirable luxury cars. As such, these companies and brands often have museums dedicated to their history and the cars that they have made and have made them famous throughout the years. You can head to the Ferrari Museum, the Lamborghini Museum, the Fiat Museum and more but, if you have found a vacation rental in Milan and are exploring the city, then the obvious choice is the Alfa Romeo Museum, located a few kilometres from the city centre of Milan, in Arese.

The Museo Storico Alfa Romeo (now called the Museo Alfa Romeo - La macchina del tempo, which literally means, “The Alfa Romeo Museum – Time Machine”) is dedicated to over 100 years of history of the Alfa Romeo brand. Alfa Romeo, while best known for their cars, has actually produced automobiles, commercial vehicles, railway locomotives, tractors, buses, trams, and marine and aircraft engines throughout the years. This museum tells the tale of the brand and all of those incredible machines that it has put out into the world over time.

The Museo Nazionale del Cinema (National Cinema Museum) in Turin is an extraordinary place. Housed inside the distinctive Mole Antonelliana, a 19th-century architectural gem designed by architect Alessandro Antonelli that dominates the skyline of the city, the museum is a fascinating exploration of the history of cinema and is an impressive museum experience. For those who have found a vacation rental in Turin and who are planning on exploring the city, it is a great place to wile away some time, especially away from hot sunny days in summer and rainy days throughout the year, and learn something new about the silver screen. For movie lovers, it is an absolute must.

Opened in 1958, the museum was originally housed in the Chiablese Palace but, sadly, had to be closed in 1985 due to safety concerns about the building. In 1992, the Maria Adriana Prolo – Museo Nazionale del Cinema Foundation was founded and talks were begun about reopening a cinema museum in the city. Luckily, they found the perfect location, the stunning Mole Antonelliana, and the National Museum of Cinema of Turin was opened to the public in August 2000.

Many people, decades on, remain fascinated by the Kennedys and the style icon that was Jackie Kennedy, in particular. As a result, places that they visited, in both official and unofficial capacities, are tourist attractions in their own right today. If you have found a vacation rental in Ravello and you have an interest in the Kennedys, it may sweeten the whole thing for you to know that the First Lady once came for a long stay in this beautiful seaside city in Italy.

In honour of this famous visit, the city is putting on a documentary exhibition that recalls this moment in history. "Welcome Jackie" is the name of the documentary exhibition curated by architect Francesco Fortunato and it recalls the story of Jackie Kennedy's long stay in Ravello in the summer of 1962, upon the advice of the famous American writer Gore Vidal who was a distant relative of the First Lady and a frequent visitor to Italy who was particularly impressed by the beauty of Ravello.

Recently, we discussed the beautiful building, art space, and cafeteria of Chiostro del Bramante, a cloister that was originally part of a monastery complex in the centre of Rome, just steps away from the famous Piazza Navona. It is a stunning space that now acts as a cultural centre, which is used for various purposes, including hosting events and regular excellent temporary exhibitions. Currently it is hosting the highly photographed and visually stunning, “Dream: L'Arte Incontra I Sogni” (“Art Meets Dreams”), which will continue into May and is a magical must-see art experience in Rome at the moment. If you have found a villa in Rome, it is definitely something to pencil in to your itinerary.