Art – See It, Feel It, Be It

For some reason not yet deciphered I have always believed in my heart that there are people who live for art. Who find themselves in art only to lose themselves again. Who create art. Who love art (even if they don’t make art). Italy was a land where some of the most legendary artists breathed their masterpieces to life. And Italy is what it is today because those artists were authentic. They were original. And most of all, they were not scared of revealing themselves in their works of art. Probably, that’s what makes an art truly beautiful; more beautiful than what meets the eye; beautiful to the extent that it breaks your heart and rips your soul apart because beauty is meant to be felt and not merely seen.

When It Comes to Art Italy is Always a Good Idea

For Classical Art Lovers

Italy carries its past and blends it with the present in such a remarkable fashion that it becomes almost impossible to separate present from the past; the past dissolves in the present and becomes one with it. You will see Renaissance artworks in Italy wherever your eyes would wander as it was where Renaissance began.

Florence

Uffizi Gallery has the most renowned masterpieces of Western art including works of artists like Da Vinci, Botticelli, Michelangelo and Caravaggio.

Vatican City

This city is brimming with classical sculptures, tapestries and Renaissance art. Sistine Chapel should certainly be on your “don’t miss” list when you travel to Vatican City because its ceiling is one of the best works of Michelangelo.

Vatican Museum is another great option for those who are head over heels in love with art. Here you can marvel at the religious art and also at the works of Marc Chagall, Paul Gauguin, Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky and many other artists.

Milan

If you love Da Vinci’s works, then Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie is definitely worth visiting. “The Last Supper” displayed in the monastery dining hall will make you swoon with its beauty.

For Modern Art Lovers

Venice

The city of canals is a paradise for people who are into modern art.

Art Biennale

I urge you to visit Venice during the Art Biennale. And what is it exactly? Art Biennale is a contemporary visual art exhibition that is held biennially (in odd-numbered years). Venice Biennale also hosts the oldest International Film Festival. It is the original biennale that inspired the other biennales across the world.

But what if you can’t visit during Venice during the Art Biennale?

Fret not. You can still delve into the modern art in the Peggy Guggenheim Collection along the Grand Canal. Guggenheim’s private collection is breathtakingly beautiful. It has works of best Italian futurists, art works by legends such as Picasso, Duchamp, Kandinsky, Max Ernst etc.

Florence

Florence is known for its Renaissance art. However, it’s also a place where contemporary art thrives in many smaller but remarkable galleries.

Recommendations:

• The Gallery of Contemporary Art in the second level of Palazzo Pitti
• The Galleria dell’Accademia: For Michelangelo fans this is heaven. You will find his sculpture of David in this museum.

Rome

MAXXI (the National Museum of 21st Century Arts) has a spectacular collection of modern artworks. The building has an interesting origin story. The architect behind this museum was Dame Zaha Hadid, one of the greatest female architects the world has ever seen.

For History Lovers

The archeological sites of history are a sight to behold for all history lovers. Mosaics and frescos in Italy have survived the swords of centuries of time and natural disasters (in some cases).

Pompeii

Murals and frescos in Pompeii and Herculaneum provide a unique perception on the rural life from 50-79 AD before the destruction caused by the eruption of Mt Vesuvius. Do pay a visit to the House of the Vetti in Pompeii in the remains of Ercolano in Herculaneum if you want to see some of the most beautifully restored murals and mosaics.

Piedmont

In Piedmont region of northern Italy, the Catello della Manta has some of the exceptional Late Gothic frescos from 1420s portraying the Nove Prodi (Nine Worthies) with their female counterparts.

Sardinia

If you would like to compare historical murals to contemporary street art, Orgosolo in Sardinia is just the place to be. So if you’re someone who likes to go off-track sometimes, these murals are definitely worth visiting.

For Architecture Lovers

Italy is an architectural heaven with its awe-inspiring arches, domes, piazzas, basilicas and castles. Rome is the best place to experience the architectural wonders of all kinds; be it classical, medieval, Gothic, Renaissance or baroque.

Where to go in Rome?

• Colosseum
• Pantheon ( US Capitol Building in Washington DC was inspired by this)
• Trevi Fountain (It is said that if you toss a coin in this fountain, you will come back to Rome.)

Other places where you can adore the architecture:

• Tivoli’s Villa Adriana
• Leaning Tower of Pisa
• Venice’s Doges Palace

For Culture Lovers

Italy is a hub of performance art; be it opera, dance or music. But if you really want to experience Italy fully, going to an opera once is a must.

Venice

Teatro La Fenice in Venice is the most famous and renowned opera house in the history of Italian theatre. It is recommended that you book a tour of this magnificent hall in advance so that you can have a look at it properly. And if you really want to attend the opera, plan your visit during the opera season from January to July or September to October.

So when you travel to these places I hope that you let the beauty seep into your heart, that you let the calmness and the chaos of art make a home in your mind because this is when your eyes will be able to see the true beauty and you will experience art in its full essence.