This weekend is dedicated to celebrating and learning more about culture throughout Europe. In Italy, most events will be hosted on Saturday, September 28 but some places will also be open on Sunday.
In Florence, only on Saturday, all of the state museums will be free – this includes the Uffizi, Accademia, Pitti Palace, Bargello and many of the main museums in Florence. In addition, as the last Saturday of the month, the Uffizi, Accademia and Medici Chapels will be open until midnight as part of the Night at the Museum initiate AND will be open for free during those hours as well.
Since the UCI Road World Championships have drawn thousands to Florence this week, many will get a chance to see the cycling races in the day and then head on to do some sightseeing and museum visits!
Here’s a list for those in Florence, plus a few others open in Tuscany for free (or offering free activities) this upcoming weekend.
Florence
All State museums – see a full list here.
Palazzo Strozzi: free access on both days to the courtyard and the small permanent museum on the history of the palace and on the Strozzi family. The current exhibit on “The Russian Avant-garde, Suberia and the East” will not be free.
Villa di Poggio Imperiale: on Saturday, free guided visit from 10:30am-12:30pm, with reservations recommended at 055 265 1876
Egyptian Museum: free guided visit at 11:30am as the new setup of the first room of the museum is inaugurated
Roberto Longhi Collection: Private collection of the art historian and critic that has numerous works of art from the 1200s to the 1900s. Reservations required at 055 6580794 for guided visits on Saturday 10-11:30am and 11:30am-1pm. Located on Via B. Fortini, 30 – http://www.fondazionelonghi.it
In the province of Florence:
Dicomano, Frascole: Free guided visit to the Archeological area of Frascole on Saturday, 4pm – for info, call 339.2822234
San Casciano – Archeological Museum: free visit to the museum on Saturday, with guided visit at 11am.
Pontassieve – Palazzo Comunale and Casa Rossa: Several artistic exhibitions are being held at the Palazzo Comunale and Casa Rossa at the moment and can be visited for free during opening hours.
Arezzo
Sansepolcro – Civic Museum: pay the entrance ticket but do a free guided tour on Sunday at 3pm
Anghiari – Palazzo Taglieschi: free entrance on Saturday and free guided visits at 4pm and 5:30pm, reduced ticket on Sunday at 11:30am and 4pm with Pass to the exhibit “Capolavori in Valtiberina”
Anghiari – Palazzo della Battaglia: Saturday at 4:45pm (reduced entry with Pass)
Foiano della Chiana – Funeral Rites between Etruria and Roma: Saturday 10am-1pm, on Sunday call 0575 643241 or 338 2868848 to book a visit
Pistoia
Palazzo Comunale – Civic Museum: 10am-6pm, free entrance
Biblioteca Fabroniana: 9-11pm, free entrance
Pisa
The Tumulus of the Etruscan Prince: Guided visits to the etruscan necropolis. Definite must see in Pisa! On Saturday, at 5:30pm, Sunday 4:30pm and 5:30pm. Meeting point at the entrance of via S. Jacopo.
Volterra
Archeology in Volterra at the Roman Theater, at La Torricella area and at the Guarnacci Museum to showcase recent restorations and ongoing-archeaological digs. Guided visits at all 3 locations at 4pm, 4:30pm, 5pm, 5:50pm, 6pm and 6:30pm.
Siena
Museum of Natural History: Free visits to the museum’s sections on geology, zoology, botany and the current exhibit. Open 3-7pm on Saturday. http://www.accademiafisiocritici.it/
San Gimignano
Civic Museum/Palazzo Comunale: The palace and its art gallery which will remain open from 7:30-11pm with free guided visits at 7:30pm, 8:30pm and 9:30pm.
For a full list, check out the MiBac website here.
About Lourdes Flores
An American living in Florence for over 10 years, Lourdes continues to explore and discover new places in Tuscany with the eyes of a tourist but with the experience of living in Italy. She shares her experiences on this blog and website, particularly offering lots of travel planning help on the Forum!
