Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

MAMbo, or the Bologna Modern Art Museum, is the leading space for the exhibition of Modern Art in Bologna and one of the leading institutions in Italy. It is 9,500m² of space in the city which is entirely devoted to visual culture and experimentation. The building itself is a former bakery on Don Minzoni Street where creativity is now born and nourished, instead of edible treats. Still, it is a site that delights the senses and engages the viewers to react, comment, learn and contribute. The permanent collection is made up of Italian art from World War II to the present day and there are also regular exhibitions of visiting collections and artists. For serious fans of modern art, this is not only a must-see while in Bologna but, also, while in Italy. Just find a holiday rental in Emilia-Romagna and spend a day exploring the city of Bologna and her extraordinary modern art museum.

Perugia was an important production centre for art in the Renaissance and from which many great masters emerged. It continues to be a city that values art to this day and is even home to one of the best art galleries in the country, though it might be less well-known than others in bigger cities such as Florence and Rome. Nonetheless, the National Gallery of Umbria in Perugia has one of the richest collections in Italy with many works of international renown. There is a large swathe of history represented by the collection and a wide range of types of works from paintings to fabrics which carefully captures the development of artistic practice in the surrounding area. Find a vacation rental in Perugia and you can spend a day taking in this absolutely world-class collection for yourself.

The Monumental Complex of Priamar (“stone by the sea”), which is often known simply as Priamar Fortress, is a sixteenth-century fortress which is located in the port town of Savona. It stands on the rock that hosted the first Savona settlement and the medieval core of the city. This monumental building has undergone many changes over the years and has been put to use for a variety of purposes. Today, it is an important museum and cultural centre in the city. Art lovers, history buffs, military enthusiasts, kids and architecture fans alike will all take something away from a visit to this attraction. Just find a vacation rental in the Riviera Ligure area and enjoy this stunning structure and the beautiful town in which it is located.

One of Italy's prettiest museums has to be Museo Revoltella in Trieste. The museum occupies the former home of Baron Revoltella and has since spilled out into two neighbouring buildings as the collections have grown over the years. Founded in 1872, it gathers the works of 19th and 20th century artists from the area and presents them alongside some of the original décor of the building including chandeliers, ornate gilded plasterwork and flamboyant silk wallpaper. The museum is also home to a lovely rooftop café and a great bookshop. Find a holiday rental in Friuli Venezia Giulia and pay a visit to the city, in order to see this amazing museum.

In a city such as Rome where the classical, from ancient to Renaissance incarnations, rules supreme, the Chiesa del Sacro Cuore del Suffragio (Church of the Sacred Heart of the Suffrage) on the banks of the Tiber immediately stands out.

This Gothic Revival church, built in the 20th century according to designs by the engineer, Giuseppe Gualandi, is often referred to as the “Little Milan Cathedral” due to its sumptuous gothic design and is well worth a visit in its own right.

However, hidden at the back of the building is a highly unique museum which is the show-stopper of the piece - the tiny century-old Piccolo Museo Del Purgatorio, or "Museum of the Holy Souls in Purgatory," which holds a collection gathered from all over the world of bibles, prayer books and clothing said to have been singed by the hands of souls in purgatory.