Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

If you are a serious culture vulture who likes to admire the greatest works made by human hands, then one of your bucket list destinations has to be Rome. With a villa in Rome, you can discover the ancient ruins of the Colosseum, Michelangelo's painted glories on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the unbelievable scale and architectural splendor of St Peter's, and much more besides. However, beyond the most famous attractions of the city, there is also an impossible wealth of other incredible attractions, buildings, works of art, examples of stunning city planning, gorgeous gardens, collections of incredible artefacts, and more to be explored. In fact, there is more to see in Rome than one could get to if they had full lifetimes to wander the beautiful streets and amazing attractions of the city. However, if you're looking for something that is a famous must-see but still slightly off the beaten track for many international tourists in Rome to pencil into your next vacation in Rome, then we suggest a visit to the glorious Palazzo Colonna.

The Palazzo Colonna is a block of palatial buildings that is located in the centre of Rome, at the base of the Quirinal Hill and which is built on a site that has housed buildings and homes since before the year 1000AD, including an ancient Roman Serapeum, a 12th century castle, and palaces of twenty generations of the powerful and noble Colonna family of Rome. Today, the palace can be visited and explored and is home to the Colonna Gallery, an incredible museum of Baroque art in the surrounds of frescoed walls and ceilings, gilded corridors, and antique furnishings. The largest noble residence in Rome, this stunning palace is akin to any of the great palatial buildings of Europe and is home to works of art by some of the most famous names in the history of art, making it an absolute must-see if you were thinking about finding a villa in Rome and spending time in the city.

Those who are interested in the history of art and architecture and in Italy as a key cultural centre in the West that inspired so much of what we see around us every day right up to the present, will probably already have a desire to find a vacation rental in Rome to come and see the Eternal City. However, while the famous monuments known all over the globe such as St Peters and the Colosseum, the Ancient Roman ruins, and the great Renaissance works of art, are all definitely worth seeking out and seeing for yourself, there are newer, lesser-known gems in this impossibly renowned and beloved city that one should definitely take note of. One such example of this is the MAXXI (the Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo or National Museum of 21st-century Arts), a wonderful museum of contemporary art and architecture that is, in its own right, an incredible architectural gem.

MAXXI is located in the Flaminio Quarter of Rome, on the site of a former Caserma Montello military barracks and incorporates parts of this earlier structure. The building was designed by lauded architect Zaha Hadid after an international competition was held to find a suitable design. Built over a period of ten years, the building went on to win the Stirling Prize of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2010. Considered an important contemporary gem in the city, it has been described by the Guardian as, "Hadid's finest built work to date," and, "a masterpiece fit to sit alongside Rome's ancient wonders." Opened to the public in 2010, the museum was the first national institution in Italy that was dedicated to contemporary art and architecture and was conceived of as a broad cultural campus. MAXXI is managed by a Foundation that was established in 2009 by the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities and headed by Giovanna Melandri and this sleek contemporary museum is a key hub of creativity and a place for experimentation and innovation.

If you have been thinking about planning a trip to Rome between now and next spring then we recommend getting there before the 11th of April 2021 in order to catch an incredible new exhibition that was opened almost a month ago in the Chiostro del Bramante. “Banksy – A Virtual Protest,” brings over 100 works by the world-famous English graffiti artist to Rome and showcases them in the stunning historic surroundings of the Chiostro del Bramante. An exhibition that sells out daily tickets easily, it is an absolute must for art-lovers exploring the Eternal City. Just browse our luxury villas in Rome and get planning a trip to see this exceptional showcase of Banksy's work and career for yourself.

While very few people actually know who Banksy is, we do know that he came up through the underground art world movement in Bristol, with his first street art pieces popping up around the city back in the early nineties. Since then, his identity has remained a closely guarded secret as graffiti is a crime but this same anonymity has allowed Banksy to tackle some of the most controversial subjects of his time freely and without fear and without the discussion being bogged down in the details of his personality and life. His work has taken on themes such as war, politics, social problems, police violence, corruption, the environment, and more.

There are lots of beautiful libraries located around the world that have become tourist attractions for bibliophiles and architecture fans alike and it makes sense. These hallowed spaces are peaceful pockets, removed from the hustle and bustle of the outside world, and have stood the test of time as important sentinels of human knowledge. It also makes sense that the main public library in the city of Bologna in Emilia Romagna, a city that is home to one of the oldest universities in the world and which is famously a city of scholars, is a particularly beautiful and noteworthy example among the loveliest public libraries in the world; the Biblioteca Salaborsa, or Salaborsa Library.

As we all try and remain home as much as possible to keep ourselves and our loved ones and others safe and to try and help our struggling healthcare systems, many are in search of different activities that one can do from the comfort and safety of their own homes. We have previously written about some incredible museums in Italy that can be visited virtually online including the Uffizi, the Vatican Museums, the Capitoline Museums, Venerada Biblioteca Ambrosiana, and the Museo del Novecento but there are many more excellent examples to keep you entertained as you stay at home and look forward to a time when travel to Italy is possible once more. Here are just five more museums in Italy that you can visit virtually right now!