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Valdelsa museums
If you want to spend a cultural holiday, the Valdelsa museum heritage is a great opportunity to discover fascinating works of art and live the most engaging cultural paths.
What attracts of this museum overview is the variety of the offer (just to name a few: BeGo Museum, Museum of Sacred Art, Archaeological Museum and Ceramic Museum of Montelupo) that through thousands of objects exhibited accompany you on a journey to discover the deep roots and traditions of Tuscan culture, linked to history since the time of the ancient Romans.
And you, which of these museums* will you visit?
BeGo museum
BeGo is the museum dedicated to Benozzo Gozzoli, a famous Florentine painter of 1400, whose works are located in Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio. Inside the museum - which is spread over two floors - it is possible to admire the two frescos of Benozzo Gozzoli: the " Tabernacolo della Visitazione" (1491) that comes from a religious building located in Castelfiorentino is 6 meters high and represents some scenes of Mary , Gioacchino and Anna, and the " Tabernacolo della Madonna della Tosse" (1484) coming from a tabernacle situated in locality "Madonna della Tosse", near Castelnuovo d'Elsa, which represents some sacred scenes including "Cristo Benedicente" and "Esequie della Vergine".
Museum of ceramics of Montelupo
With over 1000 finds exhibited, the Museum of ceramics of Montelupo tells through a fascinating thematic path the history of ceramic production in Tuscany from the 14th to 18th centuries. The museum also houses a precious decorated majolica plate dating back to 1509 called "Rosso di Montelupo" (Red of Montalupo) from the workshop of "Lorenzo Pietro Sartori".
Sacred art museum of Montespertoli
In Montespertoli near Pieve di San Pietro in Mercato there is one of the most interesting sacred art museums in Tuscany. The exhibit, divided into 4 rooms, presents precious paintings, sculptures, silverware and furnishings from the Churches scattered in the territory of Montespertoli, which shows the historical importance and the resulting artistic vitality. Among the works exhibited, there is a remarkable painting representing "La Madonna con Bambino" (Lady with Child) a work by the famous Filippo Lippi that comes from the Church of Sant'Andrea in Botinaccio.
Museum of vite and wine of Montespertoli
In Montespertoli, inside the Wine Culture Center "I Lecci", there is the Museum of Viticulture and Wine where, through an exhibition of photographs, ancient work tools, information panels and the reconstruction of some environments such as the wine fermentation room and wine cellar, you will know the history, the tradition and the wine culture of Montespertoli and Tuscany. Inside the museum there is also a "Laboratory of the Senses": a space where you can recognize through the five senses the noises, smells and flavours of wine.
Glass museum of Empoli
The Glass Museum is located within the "Salt Storehouse", a 14th century building near the historical center of Empoli, and used to store and distribute the salt from the salt pans of Volterra. Through environmental reconstructions, tools and numerous artefacts, you can trace the history of glass art in Valdelsa and learn about the various stages of producing glasses, bottles and other commonly used glass objects. In particular you will be able to know the objects made in the characteristic "green glass", such as flasks, demijohn and other recipients for the bottling of wine and oil.
Museum of "Collegiata" of Empoli
Located next to the Church of Collegiata di Sant'Andrea, in the historical center of Empoli, the Collegiate Museum is one of the most important and ancient museums in Tuscany. Inside there are some important works of Tuscan artists of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance largely coming from the churches of the territory and the city of Empoli. Noteworthy are the sculptures by Mino da Fiesole and Giovanni Pisano, a Baptismal font of 1447 attributed to Bernardo Rossellino, a precious "Our Lady in Throne" by Filippo Lippi and some enamelled terracotta sculptures belonging to the school of Della Robbia.
Museum Leonardiano of Vinci
Located in Vinci the "Museo Ideale" and the Leonardian Museum are the museums dedicated to the famous architect, inventor, engineer and painter of Tuscany born in the middle of 1400: Leonardo Da Vinci. Both museums are located in the medieval village of Vinci. The Leonardian Museum is located in two distinct buildings: in the Palazzina Uzzielli and in the Castle of the Conti Guidi, not far away, inside the ancient cellars of the castle lies the Ideal Museum. The museum itineraries, especially suitable and interesting for children, keep accurate reconstructions of models of machines, inventions and tools devised by Leonardo, and some designs made for the study of the human body.
Other interesting museums to visit
Piaggio Museum
The Piaggio Museum is the largest and most complete Italian museum dedicated to two wheels. It welcomes one-of-a-kind pieces that tell not only the history of the Piaggio Group and its brands, but also trace the history of mobility and industrial and social development in Italy. The exhibition, which is spread over an area of 5,000 square meters, shows countless models produced by Piaggio throughout its history: scooters (such as the famous Vespa) and motorcycles, but also ships, trains, airplanes and cars.
Certosa di Calci e Museo di Storia Naturale
Located a few kilometers from Pisa on the slopes of the Monti Pisani, the Certosa di Calci is an exceptional place where amazement and enchantment mix with science, history, art and nature.
The building of the Certosa di Calci, dating back to the 14th century (as a monastic complex) and enlarged between the 17th and 18th centuries, looks like a splendid Baroque monument.
The complex houses the National Museum of the Certosa di Calci whose visit will lead you to discover the world of the "Carthusian" monks and the life they led - made up of rigor, meditation and contemplation - but also the architectural beauties starting from the church with its beautiful frescoes, the chapels of the friars, the large refectory and many beautiful rooms all furnished with great magnificence which have hosted the most noble families of Tuscany over the centuries.
Next to the Certosa di Calci is the Natural History Museum. Particularly suitable for children (thanks also to interactive panels), here you can admire an infinite number of zoological, paleontological and mineralogy exhibits, as well as live animals housed in the largest freshwater aquarium in Italy.
Discovering the territory
At 1 hour drive
It seems almost impossible that in 1 hour driving or even less you can reach so many fascinating and famous places such as Florence, Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano, Volterra and Lucca, as well as small medieval villages that can attract thousands of visitors from all over the world. Discover what you can visit in 1 hour drive.
The most famous cities to visit
Florence, Siena, Pisa and Lucca are 4 cities that alone hold most of Italy's artistic and cultural treasures, and they are all within an hour's drive from Montaione!
