Saturday May 15, 2010 is “La notte dei musei” – Night at the museum. Just like in the movie of the same name, you can romp with dinosaurs (at Florence’s paleonthology museum), admire fleshy Tintorettos (the Uffizi), or hang out in Roman ruins (Carmignano or Chiusi) until the wee hours. This is an Italy-wide initiative of the MiBAC (state museums) but others are also participating. Entry to museums is FREE for this event!
Here’s a few suggestions based on your artistic preferences:
- If you like contemporary art, Palazzo Strozzi in Florence is your location of choice; the exhibit “as soon as possible” has just opened up and is lots of fun; upstairs De Chirico is modern (not contemporary) but by all means, GO! On the other hand if you’re in Lucca, go to the Lucca Contemporary art museum. Neither are state museums so they’re not free but they are open late.
- If you like Science, go to any one of the Natural History museums (from wax anatomy at La Specola to feather masks at the ethno-anthropological museum).
- And if you love the Renaissance, kick off the evening at San Marco and imagine what it would have been like for the friars after dark; then head over the Bargello, not only to admire famous sculptures, but also to see jewels and maiolica exchanged in past centuries.
Participating museums are open until 1 or 2am and there are other events going on too. In Tuscany these are as follows: State Museums:
| TOSCANA Province / City Special opening hours |
||||
| Museo Archeologico Statale “C. Clinio Mecenate” | AREZZO | AREZZO | ore 20,00 – 2,00 | |
| Museo Statale d’Arte Medievale e Moderna | AREZZO | AREZZO | ore 20,00-2,00 | |
| Galleria degli Uffizi e Corridoio Vasariano | FIRENZE | FIRENZE | ore 19,00-1,00 | |
| Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze | FIRENZE | FIRENZE | ore 19,00-1,00 | |
| Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze | FIRENZE | FIRENZE | 20,00-2,00 | |
| Museo della Casa Fiorentina Antica – Palazzo Davanzati | FIRENZE | FIRENZE | ore 19,00-1,00 | |
| Museo di San Marco | FIRENZE | FIRENZE | ore 19,00-1,00 | |
| Museo Nazionale del Bargello | FIRENZE | FIRENZE | ore 19,00-1,00 | |
| Museo Nazionale delle Residenze Napoleoniche – “Villa di San Martino” | LIVORNO | PORTOFERRAIO | ore 20,00-2,00 | |
| Museo Nazionale delle Residenze Napoleoniche – “Palazzina dei Mulini” | LIVORNO | PORTOFERRAIO | ore 20,00-2,00 | |
| Museo Nazionale di Villa Guinigi | LUCCA | LUCCA | ore 20,00-2,00 | |
| Pinacoteca Nazionale e Museo di Palazzo Mansi | LUCCA | LUCCA | ore 20,00-2,00 | |
| Certosa Monumentale | PISA | CALCI | ore 20,00-2,00 | |
| Museo Nazionale di Palazzo Reale | PISA | PISA | ore 20,00-2,00 | |
| Museo Nazionale di San Matteo | PISA | PISA | ore 20,00-2,00 | |
| Museo di Casa Giusti | PISTOIA | MONSUMMANO TERME | 19,00-1,00 | |
| Tomba di Montefortini – Area Archeologica di Artimino | PRATO | CARMIGNANO | ore 20,00-2,00 | |
| Villa Medicea di Poggio a Caiano e Giardino | PRATO | POGGIO A CAIANO | ore 19,00-1,00 | |
| Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Chiusi | SIENA | CHIUSI | ore 20,00 – 2,00 | |
| Pinacoteca Nazionale | SIENA | SIENA | ore 20,00-2,00 | |
Participating non-state museums and events on May 15th:
The “Museo di Storia Naturale” (Run by the University of Florence) is open from 20-24. Entrance is free, guided tours every 1/2 hour.
- Sezione di Antropologia ed Etnologia (via del Proconsolo, 12)
- Sezione di Geologia e Paleontologia (via La Pira, 4)
- Sezione di Mineralogia e Litologia (via La Pira, 4)
- Sezione di Zoologia La Specola (via Romana, 17)
- Villa Il Gioiello (Pian dei Giullari, 42)
All’improvviso Dante – 100 canti per firenze: 867 performers (citizens like you and me) perform Dante in the streets of Florence from 15:30 to 20.
Palazzo Strozzi is open until 11pm and entrance is free – go see De Chirico!
Lu.C.C.A. Contemporary is open until midnight, ticket costs 5 euros. The exhibits on now are State of Mind and Fiorella Pierobon.
