The 5 most original museums in Tuscany

Tuscany is home to an infinite number of museums and in addition to the most famous ones such as the Uffizi and the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo in Pisa, there are other lesser-known but no less interesting ones that attract visitors for their unusual side.

We have selected for you the 5 most original museums in Tuscany, for an itinerary off the traditional tourist routes.

Stibbert Museum

One of the most original (and fascinating) in Tuscany is the Stibbert Museum in Florence. Housed in a beautiful villa on the hill of Montughi, it owes its existence to the Anglo-Italian collector and businessman Frederick Stibbert (1838-1906). In February 2021, it was described by journalist Jason Farago of the New York Times as ‘the most eclectic and fascinating museum in Florence’. It houses an exceptional collection of arms, armour, costumes, furnishings and applied art, tapestries and paintings from the 16th to the 19th century. Very impressive is the section dedicated to Japan, which includes not only weapons and armour, but also bronzes, costumes and lacquers. The villa is surrounded by a beautiful romantic English-style park, enlivened by small temples, grottoes and water features. It is a museum that even children will love.

Football Museum

If you are a football fan, you cannot miss the Football Museum in Florence. Housed in a building of the Centro Tecnico Federale della Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio, it tells the present and past history of the Italian national football team and the FIGC. It houses memorabilia such as balls, jerseys, shoes, cups and medals, as well as an extraordinary archive of photographs and films. Among the countless exhibits are: the pennant from the friendly match Italy-Austria on 15 January 1922; the jersey in which Silvio Piola made his debut for the national team; the cup raised in 2006; and the jerseys that trace the success of Euro2020. The museum hosts temporary exhibitions and also offers various educational tours.

Straw and Braiding Museum

Just over 20 kilometres from Florence, precisely in Signa, is the ‘Domenico Michelacci’ Straw and Braiding Museum dedicated to one of Tuscany’s oldest craft traditions. It contains materials, equipment, documents and photographs relating to the cultivation and processing of straw used to make hats and fashion accessories, as well as a rich collection of artefacts from all over the world. The museum is divided into several exhibition halls, some for permanent display, others for temporary exhibitions. In the main room you can admire a selection of hats from the late 19th century to 1970, including the famous ‘straw hat of Florence’, also known under the English name Leghorn.

Museum of Satire and Caricature

Also undoubtedly worth a visit is the Museum of Satire and Caricature in Forte dei Marmi, in the heart of Versilia. Housed inside the historic Fortino, it was created from the works submitted to the Political Satire Award and has become the centre for the preservation, collection and study of all materials relating to the world history of satire and caricature. The museum’s holdings include a rich collection of contemporary and past satirical drawings. Among the authors on display are big names such as Lorenzo Viani, Angiolo Tricca, Carletto Manzoni, Milo Manara and George Cruikshank. In addition to the permanent exhibition, the museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions of satirical graphics.

Piaggio Museum

Finally, we suggest a visit to the Piaggio Museum in Pontedera, the largest motorbike museum in Italy and one of the largest in Europe. Inaugurated in 2000 and completely renovated in 2018, it is housed in the premises of a former tooling workshop of the company. It houses in its rooms: some pieces of pre-war railway and aeronautical production; the rich Vespa collection; Piaggio’s collection of two-, three- and four-wheeled products; and products related to the motorbike and sports history of the Aprilia, Gilera and Moto Guzzi brands. Among the vehicles on display are the 1945 MP5 Paperino, the 1962 Vespa 150 S signed by Salvador Dalì and the 2015 Emporio Armani 946. Throughout the year, the museum organises numerous events, workshops and educational activities.

Photos © Stibbert Museum – Football Museum – Piaggio Museum