Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

The Museo Egizio in Turin is the only museum, other than the Cairo Museum, in the entire world that is dedicated solely to the display of, and informing the public about, Egyptian art and culture. It has one of the largest collections of Egyptian antiquities in the world, with over 30,000 pieces in the collection, and receives close to a million visitors each year. One of the most unexpected and intriguing attractions in Italy, it is one more reason to find a vacation rental in Piedmont and make your way to the charming city of Turin.

The Brera Picture Gallery, or Pinacoteca di Brera, is Milan’s main public art gallery. Consisting of a rich collection of artworks that represents over six centuries of European art, the museum is home to works by famous artists such as Rubens, Titian, Correggio and Anthony Van Dyck.

Housed in what was originally a 14th century monastery, it was later redesigned by the renowned architect Giuseppe Piermarini and is surrounded by a picturesque botanic garden and is a stunning museum in a beautiful setting. It is a must-see for those who have found a vacation rental in Milan.

The Palazzo Brera was once a convent that came into the possession of the Jesuits in the 16th century. However, when the Jesuits were disbanded in 1773, the palazzo remained the seat of the astronomical Observatory and the Braidense National Library, which had been founded by the Jesuits. The herbarium of the new botanical garden was added a year later and the buildings were the extended under Piermarini, who went on to become a professor at the Academy that was established on site in 1776.

Italy is inundated with endless incredible art collections, an infinite amount of amazing tourist attractions and, particularly, lots of excellent museums. With so many wonderful museums to choose from, it can be hard to decide where to go so we've compiled a list of some of the best museums around Italy to help narrow it down for you. Pencil these in for your next trip to Italy and you won't be disappointed.

8. Brera Picture Gallery

The Brera Picture Gallery, or Pinacoteca di Brera, is Milan’s main public art gallery. Consisting of a rich collection of artworks that represents over six centuries of European art, the museum is home to works by famous artists such as Rubens, Titian, Correggio and Anthony Van Dyck. The building was originally a 14th century monastery that was later redesigned by the renowned architect Giuseppe Piermarini and is also surrounded by a picturesque botanic garden. So, therefore, in addition to being one of Italy’s most important art institutions, there is also much to see and do on the grounds of the building itself.

As we noted in the last post in this series, there are many excellent museums to be found all across Italy and your list of options is endless. In order to make your choice in which ones to visit, we have compiled a selection of some of the most popular and beloved museums in Italy.

4. Bargello

The Bargello is one of the best and most important art museums in Florence. Dating back to 1255, it was originally the headquarters of the Capitano del Popolo and later of the Podestà. In the sixteenth century, it became the residence of the Bargello (head of the police) and was used as prison during the whole 18th century. The building became a National Museum as of the mid-19th century and today it is an excellent sculpture museum, especially for early works by great masters of the Renaissance such as Donatello, Giambologna, Michelangelo and many others. Just find a luxury villa in Florence and take in this excellent but lesser-known (and slightly less busy) of the city's most famous museums.

Museums and Italy can almost seem synonymous, at times, and, certainly, if you have plans to visit Italy, you'll pencil a couple in to your itinerary. There are so many to choose from, however, that you might find it hard to pick some out. To help you out, we have compiled a list of some of the best and must-see museums throughout the country. If you end up near any of these, you have no excuse to skip them!

1. Vatican Museums

If you have found a vacation rental in Rome, this is a definite must-see attraction. It consistently tops the lists of best and most-visited museums in Italy and for good reason. The Vatican Museums, make for the largest exhibition space in the world with over 1400 rooms dedicated to Renaissance arts, Catholic Church history, as well as some interesting Etruscan and Egyptian collections. The 100 galleries that constitute the museums are loaded with papal treasures that were accumulated over the centuries and include the Sistine Chapel, ancient Greek and Roman sculptures like the “Laocoön” and “Belvedere Apollo,” and the frescoed “Stanze” by Raphael.