From the Medici to the contemporary
Modern and contemporary art a short walk from the Medici villas
Villas included: Villa La Magia, Villa di Poggio a Caiano, Villa di Artimino, Villa di Fiesole
The itinerary offers an overview of modern and contemporary art collections in the areas of Pistoia, Prato and Florence
RECOMMENDED MODES OF TRANSPORT
By car or by public transport
STAGES
6 STAGES
1° STOP
CONTEMPORARY ART COLLECTION AT VILLA LA MAGIA
The villa is located at the foot of Montalbano, on via Fiorentina, between Pistoia and Florence. The museum-park, known as “Lo Spirito del Luogo,” hosts works by artists that, after staying in the villa, were inspired by the spirit of the place and translated the genius loci into artworks. The thematic environmental art park boasts pieces by artists like Fabrizio Corneli, Daniel Buren and Anne and Patrick Poirer.
2° STOP
QUINTO MARTINI MUSEUM PARK
A vast area 32,000 square metres in size, in the hamlet of Seano, is home to a large donation made by the student of Ardegno Soffici. Inaugurated in 1988, the park conserves 36 bronze sculptures set against the stunning background of the Montalbano hills.
3° STOP
ALBERTO MORETTI ART SPACE
In Carmignano, we find this space dedicated to one of the most important artists of the post-war period. In addition to his paintings, the house conserves the collection amassed by the painter, who founded the Galleria Scheme in Florence, a historic centre for contemporary art.
4° STOP
ARDENGO SOFFICI MUSEUM
Inside the Medici stables, close to the villa in Poggio a Caino, you can find this exceptional museum dedicated to Ardegno Soffici and 20th-century Italian art. The collection offers an exhaustive look at the artist’s career, from 1904 to the 1960s, and displays the Poggio-born artist’s contribution to art in 20th-century Italy, underlining his international character.
5° STOP
CENTRO PER L’ARTE CONTEMPORANEA LUIGI PECCI
The Centro Pecci was founded in Prato to promote and present the most avant-garde artistic research being done in the international art scene. Since 1988, the museum has promoted, displayed and collected paintings, sculptures, photographs, films and videos, installations, graphic artworks and a long series of commissioned projects. More than 3,000 square metres of exhibition space, along with archives, libraries, a cinema and a theatre, are the legacy of a permanent collection that counts more than 1,000 works dating from the 1950s to today.
6° STOP
PRIMO CONTI MUSEUM AND FOUNDATION
The foundation was opened as a documentation and research centre for historically avant-garde movements thanks to a bequest by the Conti family in 1980. The headquarters can be found in the 15th-century Villa Le Coste, where the artist once lived. Inside, we find the museum with works by Primo Conti ranging from 1911 to 1985. The archive comprises a collection of more than 100,000 documents and a library.
