Is it possible for a church to transform into a magnificent stage for modern art? Here at the Museo Marino Marini, the answer is a resounding yes. The Museo Marino Marini isn’t your typical art museum. Housed in the former church of San Pancrazio, this space effortlessly blends the old and the new. Imagine, centuries-old walls now showcasing the dynamic sculptures, paintings, and drawings of Marino Marini, a renowned 20th-century Italian artist. Marino Marini, born in Pistoia in 1901, had a deep fascination with archetypes, particularly the figures of the knight and Pomona, the goddess of fertility. He saw the knight as a symbol of virtue, while Pomona represented natural sexuality and innocence. The Museo Marino Marini houses 180 of his works, donated by Marini himself and his wife. The collection isn’t displayed chronologically; instead, it’s arranged thematically, allowing you to dive deep into Marini’s artistic mind. Look around, his sculptures, particularly his iconic equestrian figures, seem to almost throb with life as if they could leap from their platforms at any moment. The church itself, deconsecrated in 1808, had quite a journey before becoming the Museo Marino Marini. It served as a lottery headquarters, a courthouse, a tobacco factory, even a military depot before finding its true calling as a museum in the mid-19th century. This blend of the ancient and the modern, the sacred and the secular, creates a captivating tension that makes the Museo Marino Marini truly unforgettable.
Santa Lucia alla Castellina
“A sanctuary of art and faith””. You might say that about many places, but here at Santa Lucia alla Castellina,