• Umbra Blog

Culture Week in Italy means free museums from April 14-22!

Once a year, the Italian government drops all entrance fees for state-owned museums in celebration of Italian Culture Week! While lines might be a bit longer at larger museums because of bigger crowds, this is a great opportunity to check out that museum or photography exhibit that you’ve been eyeing but haven’t wanted to pay for. It begins this Friday, April 9^th and goes for nine days until Sunday, April 22.

This is true for the major museums and exhibits in Florence and Rome as well:

1. The Accademia 
   Via Ricasoli, 58-60  –  Open: Tue-Sun, 8:15a-6.50p
   Phone: 055 238 8609 – Map

   The big sight here is Michelangelo’s David. A trick that they frequently pull at the Accademia – although they do the same thing at the Uffizi – is to create a special, limited-time exhibit, and then to extend it. So, if you’re trying to see something and the end date is in the near future, don’t hurry too much; it’ll likely still be there when you’re really trying to go. Also, watch out for the famous Accademia “shriekers” – the guards will happily yell at you if you try to take a picture of the David. Discretion helps, but they’re very observant.
    

2. The Uffizi
    Loggiato degli Uffizi, 6  –  Open: Tue-Sun, 8:15a-6.50p
    Phone: 055 238 8683 – Map

   One of the most famous museums in the world – but they’re known for loaning out some of their most famous works very suddenly. If you’re fixed on seeing one particular work, call ahead and make sure that it’s still there. Also, please remember: no liquids! They do have a x-ray machine and will make you dump it out. 
    

3. Palatine Gallery / Palazzo Pitti 
    Piazza Pitti, 1 – Open:  Sun-Fri 8.30a -6.50p (inc. holidays); Saturdays 8.30a-10.00p
    Phone: 055 238 8614 – Map

   Palazzo Pitti, a converted private collection, is well worth seeing. Also notable are the attached Boboli gardens, which are a destination in themselves. Think about doing the €11 complete ticket, which permits you to see both the palace and the gardens – the price for that drops to €9 after 4.30.

    

    

But there are also plenty of museums in Perugia: 

If you’re too warm from sitting on the steps of the duomo, cool down by heading into the Etruscan well or into the San Severo chapel to see a Raphael fresco. Also, if you haven’t gone into the Museo Nazionale or the Nobile Collegio del Cambio on Corso Vannucci, you can just pop in – perhaps with a gelato!

And last — but decidedly not least — don’t forget about the National Archaeological Museum of Umbria, which is found in Corso Cavour, a beautiful and up-and-coming area of the city which is only about a seven-minute walk from downtown.

Do you have any recommendations for the best museums in Perugia or in Italy?