THEhe union between religious holidays and culture becomes particularly close this year. Easter Sunday, April 5th, coincides with the first Sunday of the month, i.e. the Sunday on which it comes to life the national initiative “Free Museums”which allows access to monuments, archaeological parks and state museums, without spending. A precious opportunity to rediscover the Italian heritage, thanks to the many structures they have planned extraordinary openings also for Easter Mondaythe traditional Easter Monday. There are so many proposals, let’s look at at least the most important ones.
Free museums at Easter: Rome between Greek legends and treasure hunts
TO Rome the calendar of educational activities and guided tours continues until April 6th. For those looking for an institutional experience, the Senatorial Palace on the Capitoline Hill opens its doors on Sunday 5 April. Temporary exhibitions also enrich the offer: ai Trajan’s Markets it is possible to explore the sculptural universe of Constantin Brâncuși, while the Gam, Gallery of Modern Artcelebrates its centenary with an exhibition that traces a century of acquisitions. THE Capitoline museums they host a vast selection of works that tell the story of the link between Greece and Rome. And, for the little ones, the Museum of Rome at Palazzo Braschi organizes an egg hunt among the exhibition rooms for tomorrow, Saturday 4 April.
Florence: from Renaissance masterpieces to dialogue with the abstract
In Tuscany, the hub is naturally Florence. If entry is Sunday at the Uffizia Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens it is free, the opening remains confirmed on Monday, but with ordinary tickets. The “Sunday at the museum” also involves the Academy Gallerywhere Michelangelo’s David resides, and the Bargello National Museumcustodian of the most important collection of Italian Renaissance sculpture. An unmissable event concerns the San Marco Museumwhere the newborn arrangement of Hall of Beato Angelico allows you to admire the largest collection in the world of works on panel by the painter friar.
The wonderful Boboli Gardens in Florence will be open on Easter Sunday. (Getty Images)
The charm of the Savoy residences and Roman Piedmont
Turin is betting everything on its team Royal museums. In addition to free access on Sunday, on Easter Monday, the focus shifts slightly outside the city: to “Effimera” debuts in Racconigi Castlea schedule of events in the park that will last until autumn, while the Agliè Castle showcases a fine collection of 19th century Japanese paintings. For those who prefer more intimate atmospheres or archaeology, the Piedmont area also offers‘Vezzolano Abbey And the excavations of Libarna and Augusta Bagiennorumliving evidence of the Roman presence in northern Italy.
Milan: between the Grande Brera and the memories of Neoclassicism
In the Lombardy capital, Sunday is dedicated to Brera Art Gallery and the new headquarters of Palazzo Citteriowhich hosts contemporary photographic tributes and video installations. However, pay attention to the calendar: these locations, together with the Leonardo’s Last Supper Museumwill be closed on Easter Monday. Always open and free on both public holidays are the Gallerie d’Italia in Piazza Scala. For those seeking an architectural and institutional experience, Marine Palaceseat of the Municipality, offers free guided tours to discover the beauties of the sixteenth-century palace.
The Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan will also be open with all its exhibitions. (Getty Images)
The South: the queens of Caserta and the myth of Parthenope
There Campania he shows up with his big guns. There Royal Palace of Caserta allows free access on Sundays to the apartments and the royal park. Although some sectors such as Court Theatre remain closed on Sundays, on Monday the complex will be open to visitors in its almost complete entirety (for a fee). TO NaplesThe Mann, the National Archaeological Museum of Naplescelebrates the millenary bond between the city and its mythological founder with the exhibition “Parthenope. The mermaid and the city”. A journey that starts from the first Greek settlements and reaches the urban artistic expressions of today.
Finds from the seabed and bronzes found: the North-East and Liguria
To Aquileiain Friuli Venezia Giulia, the holidays coincide with the last days of the exhibition dedicated to the Bronzes of San Casciano, the exceptional Tuscan thermal discovery that rewrote part of Etruscan-Roman history. Continuing towards the sea, a Gradein the province of Gorizia, it is possible to admire the Iulia Felix, a Roman merchant ship recovered from the lagoon seabed with its cargo intact. Finally, too Genoa participates in the culture festival: Royal Palace And Spinola Palace welcome the public on Sunday afternoon, offering a glimpse of the luxury and power of the Genoese nobility between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Better to book so as not to lose your place
In short, whether you choose the rigor of ancient sculptures or the splendor of baroque palaces, this Easter it is confirmed as a unique opportunity to reclaim beauty which defines the identity of the Italian territory. Naturally, given the expected high turnout and the different access methods (some locations still require online booking), it is advisable to consult the official websites of the individual museums before travelling.
