National Museum of Palazzo Reale, Pisa

The Palace, whose construction between 1583 and 1587 is attributed to Francesco I de’ Medici, faces the Arno riverfront while at the back, through two large arches, it is connected on one side to the Church of San Nicola and on the other to the 13th-century Widow’s House. Currently also the seat of the Superintendency, it houses the museum in the rooms of the main floor. It documents the timeless inclination toward beauty of the ruling classes, from the Medici to the bourgeois collectors of the 20th century. On display are the tapestries and furnishings the Medici used to decorate the palace rooms. Among the portraits of the main members of the dynasty (many from the collection of the Order of the Knights of Saint Stephen) notable are the remarkable effigies of Eleonora di Toledo, wife of Cosimo I de’ Medici (work of Bronzino) [Tapestry Room], Cosimo himself portrayed with grand ducal insignia (copy from the Flemish Iustus Sustermans, official portraitist of the family), and Ferdinando de’ Medici in cardinal’s attire (work by Alessandro Allori) [Room 7]. Other monumental portraits of the grand dukes [Room 8] stand alongside numerous portraits (works by Ferretti and Tempesti) of members of the Lorraine house that succeeded the Medici in governing Tuscany, as well as of two Savoy kings, Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I [Room 11].

Of particular importance is the collection of ancient armaments from the Gioco del Ponte, rich in over 900 pieces of Lombard manufacture from the 15th to 18th centuries [Room 6]. Among the private collections acquired by various means are works attributed to Rosso Fiorentino (Rebecca at the Well), the very young Raphael (The Miracle of the Two Hanged Men, part of the predella of the Altarpiece of San Nicola da Tolentino) [Room 12], Francesco and Luigi Gioli, and the exceptionally rich bequest of surgeon Antonio Ceci with Italian and Flemish paintings, ivory miniatures, medals, porcelain, bronzes, and drawings [Rooms 13-16].

Among the most recent acquisitions are paintings by Plinio Nomellini, Spartaco Carlini, Galileo Ghini, Mino Rosi, and Gianni Bertini.

Also exhibited are the very rich plaster cast collection and the paintings of Italo Griselli, one of Italy’s leading sculptor-portraitists of the early 20th century [Rooms 17-21].

Combined ticket with the National Museum of San Matteo in Pisa: €8.00 (full price) €4.00 (reduced)