Tuscany things to do | PlanningaTour.com

Florence’s museums

tondo-doni — Sacred Family - Tondo Doni - Michelangelo Buonarroti

Here as follow the most important museums in Florence:

The Uffizi Gallery:
the gratiest museums in Italy and the world, the museum contains italian and foreign artist such as Cimabue, Michelangelo, Leonardo, Botticelli, Piero della Francesca, Masaccio, Giotto, Beato Angelico Rubens, Goya, Caravaggio..
Official Website: www.polomuseale.firenze.it

The Accademy Gallery:
the museum is famous for Michelangelo sculptures including “David”.
Official Website: www.polomuseale.firenze.it

The National Museum Il Bargello:
The museum contains masterpieces by Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, Giambologna, Cellini and Donatello alognwith priceless ivories, enamels, jewels, tapestries and weapons.
Official Website: www.polomuseale.firenze.it

The Museum of San Marco:
the museum also contains the works of Beato Angelico in the form of frescoed interiors and the panels displayed in the large alms-house; also has a beautiful last supper frescoed by Ghirlandaio and, in its first public library of the Renaissance, with an illuminated manuscripts.
Official Website: www.polomuseale.firenze.it

The Museum of Cathedral:
the museum contains im portant works of Luca Della Robbia, Arnolfo di Cambio and Michelangelo.
Official Website: www.operaduomo.firenze.it

The Museum of The History of The Scince:
the museum contains an important collection of scientific instruments from the thirteenth century with very important original scientific instruments used by Galileo Galilei.
Official Website: www.imss.fi.it

Tuscany – Christmas train from Viareggio to Coreglia

Coreglia and Viareggio are closer for Christmas thanks to the Christmas train. now it’s the turn of the livig crib of Ghivizzano to be deal of the special train of december 19th.
Since 7 pm the old village of Ghivizzano lives its past in the artisans ateliers, the wineshops and small restaurants.
A chance to taste the flavours of the old times and the foods of the tradition:the “mondine” (roasted chestnuts), vin brulé, necci (chestnuts flour crepes) , the typical butchery of Serchio Valley in the magic atmosphere… waiting for Christmas.
The train leaves from Viareggio at 6.50 pm stops in Lucca at 7.13 pm and reaches the station Ghivizzano-Coreglia at 7.50 pm.
The way back instead, is at 00.09 am from Ghivizzano-Coreglia; stops in Lucca at 00.36 am and arrival in Viareggio alle 1.00 am
Ordinary tickets are valids. A free shuttle is available from the arrival in Ghivizzno to the seat of the festival.

More information on:
www.pontineltempo.it
toll number: 800-533999

Tuscany – Christmas in Barga

I’ve always loved the Christmas Holidays both here and in the U.S. I have to admit, however, that in Italy there’s a much more festive feeling for a longer period and so many more traditions.

There are two i’d like to mention. One is the live Nativity representation in Barga on December 23 and one, more falily oriented, is making the coockies called befanotti, wich the Befana gives to children who’ve been “good” during the year. If they haven’t, they get charcoal.

The Nativity representation in Barga take place every year on December 23 starting after 9 p.m. It takes place trhough Barga’s lovely historic center and ends at the cathedral at about midnight when the bells ring out announcing the birth of baby Jesus. Everyone follows the two people representing Joseph and mary as they walk from hostelry to hosterly aking if there is room in the inn for them. Jospeh and mary are enacted by a young couple from the town. They are, of course dressed in period costumes and i have to say how well made the are. People follow them and the donkey and as they walk through the town, they can watch various crafts being dine by carpenters, shoemakers and weavers, al dressed in period costumes. Of course there are people roasting chestnuts over an open fire, making sausages and also the pancakes called necci and frittelle which are made from chestnut flour.
Nothing isa charged for. You are only asked to make a small offering to cover the expenses of organizing suach am important event.

Making befanotti i san important family tradition, especially for those living in the villages in the mountains. These are a kind of butter cookie made in various shake such as the Befana, animals, stars and trees. The Befana then distributes them through the village on the eve of the Epiphany.

Merry Christmas!

Tuscany – Impruneta

The city is situated near Florence, between the valleys of Greve and Ema streams; Impruneta is “home of Tuscan terracotta and ceramics”.
The most important feature of Impruneta is the Sanctuary of Santa Maria. The basilica dates from 1060, being probably located over an ancient devotional site of Etruscan times (6th century BC). It was an important site of pilgrimage during the Middle Ages.
The basilica was bombed during World War II and now few of the original decorations can be seen. The museum connected to the basilica is home to one of the oldest known pieces of European patchwork, the so-called Impruneta Cushion, dating from the late 14th or early 15th centuries.
The current Madonna’s image is a heavy restoration by Ignazio Hugford from 1758.
The town’s Saint is St. Luc and the saint’s feast day (18th. Oct) is the highlight of a week-long festival with a Palio featuring Horse Racing a carnival and fireworks.

More informations on: www.impruneta.com

Tuscany – The Viareggio GAMC

In spite of sensational posters for the Futuristi centenary Exhibitions in Milan, Rome and other italian cities during the first part of this year i was too lazy to get on a train and actually check them out. Of course i had bumped into the occasional striking painting in galleries abroad, and the flashing, whiriling colours set in the chaos of urban modernity did call for attention. But male glorification of machinery, the exaltation of the large, fast and powerful, the triumph of technology over nature surely something to be taken in small doses?
The 1909 Manifesto of the movement’s founder Marinetti encompassed virulent rejection of tradition, both political and artistic, comprehensible in a young man in a new century.
“We wont no part of it, the past, we the young and strong Futurists” but he also ranted about the cleansing power of war (igiene del mondo) and indeed Futurismi s often linked with Fascism.
However, stunning full page plates of Umberto Boccioni or Giacomo Balla contained in cofee table tomes with stressful titles such as 100 Paintings to See Before you Die sagge away at me, and i have to admit the aesthetics were powerful. I really wanted to know more. What a stroke of luck then that Viareggio should come to the rescue with a genuinely small dose in the shape of the exhibition Il Futurismo a Viareggio e in Versilia.
A stroll along the promenade, some designer window shopping and an hour in the GAMC (Galleria di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea) wouldn’t take much effort.

GAMC “Lorenzo Viani” Palazzo delle Muse, Piazza Mazzini, Viareggio.
Tel. 0584 581118
Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10.00-13.00 and 15.30-19.00
Entrance euro 3,00
More informations on www.gamc.it/