Archive for 'Museums & Galleries'

Carrara Marble is famous worldwide. It adorns counters in the fanciest kitchens around the world and was the material of choice of the great Renaissance genius, Michelangelo. To this day, the area in and around Carrara is steeped in the tradition of marble quarrying and of parcelling it off to make beautiful things. You can go on exhilarating 4x4 tours through the glittering marble quarries of the region to see where the journey of so many famous art objects and buildings began, you can explore the stunning and exquisitely carved marble gem that is Carrara’s Cathedral and how the material can be used to its fullest and most extraordinary extent, you can wander around the many marble beauties in the town of Carrara, and you can also seek out the exceptionally lovely sculptures made of Carrara marble in churches and galleries and museums all over Tuscany, Italy, and the world.     Read More

The Museo di Storia Naturale del Mediterraneo (or the Natural History Museum of the Mediterranean) is a long-standing beloved gem in the seaside city of Livorno in Tuscany that is a favourite of school groups and families. However, if you have found a vacation rental in Livorno and are planning on spending time in the area, it makes for an interesting visit for tourists too and, well, anyone, particularly those travelling with kids. Just set aside a couple of hours and come explore the models of various creatures, the dioramas, the interactive features, the impressive animal skeletons and much more besides…

Originally established in 1929, when famous naturalists from Livorno and the surrounding area collected lots of scientific equipment that had previously been part of the Cabinet of Natural History at the Technical Institute of Amerigo Vespucci. It was these objects that became the original basis of the collection of the museum. In 1944, bombing destroyed the museum and it was moved to the municipal aquarium and reopened there in 1952. The museum was moved once more in 1980 to a restored historic property in town, the Villa Henderson, and that is where it remains to this day.     Read More

Leonardo da Vinci is, without a doubt, one of the most famous names in the history of art. Throughout the centuries, while other artists have had fluctuating levels of fame and popularity, Da Vinci has remained one of the most globally recognised, fascinating, and elusive figures. His artistic skill, multiple talents in several fields, visionary ideas, intriguing glimpses of his personal life, his long string of unfinished works, and his unique career path are all captivating traits that have ensured the continued interest in the artist and this year that interest is set to only increase as we celebrate the 500th anniversary of his death on the 2nd of May 1519.     Read More

Florence is always increasing the number of fully-accessible museums and attractions, ways to avoid architectural impediments, themed sensory tours, helpful elements in public transport, places to park, and more. They are working to make it a more accessible destination for all and it is a great place to choose if you or someone in your group have particular requirements but don't want to miss out on a wonderful holiday or have to stress out overly about the details. Just find a vacation rental in Florence and continue to read our guide to the helpful initiatives making Florence more accessible for all...

5. Special Tours, Exhibits, Attractions & More

The Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Vecchio, Gallery of Modern Art, Palazzo Davanzati, Marino Marini Museum, Galileo Museum, Museum of Natural History, and Botanical Gardens all offer special tours and ways of exploring their attractions for those with special requirements or needs and there are also many guides that offer special tours and personalised routes through the institutions. Very few museums are inaccessible and those that are are only this way due to unalterable historical features of the buildings in which they are housed. Most attractions also have sections of their websites dedicated to accessibility but this PDF offers a good guide to the main ones that tourists might be interested in visiting.     Read More