Tuscany, 5 museums not to be missed

In terms of both quantity and quality, Tuscany is the region with the world's most renowned museums. The Uffizi Gallery alone would be enough to crown Tuscany as the homeland of museums, but there are many other unmissable ones, some well-known, others less so, that tell centuries of Italian history. Beauty is one of Italy's greatest heritages in many fields, not only in art, but also in design, food, and the textile sector.

If you're vacationing here, beyond the beautiful Tuscan villages and the world's most famous art cities, we recommend stopping at some of these museums in Florence and beyond. We've chosen five, spanning art, design, history, and science.

Florence - Fashion and Costume Museum

Among the countless rooms of the Uffizi housing some of the greatest masterpieces in art history, there are also several dedicated to fashion history. This incredible Costume Gallery features over 6,000 costumes and fashion accessories. The museum spans centuries of fashion history, up to recent names of true artists like Valentino, Armani, and Versace. Don't miss the costumes of Eleonora Duse, Italy's most famous theater actress in history, or the funeral garments of Cosimo de' Medici.

Pontedera - Piaggio Museum

As we mentioned, Italian excellence and the taste for celebrating beauty also applies to design. Worldwide, the Vespa is synonymous with Italy, starting with its famous appearance in the classic Hollywood film "Roman Holiday." In Pontedera, where Vespas are still manufactured today, there's a beautiful museum dedicated to the history of this scooter with immortal design. 250 pieces are on display, tracing the history of Piaggio and Italy.

Florence - La Specola

If you're looking for something different, here's another Florentine museum not to be missed. This is La Specola, one of Europe's oldest scientific museums. Incredible collections from the 1700s to today, with thousands of pieces including animals, anatomical wax figures, minerals, and skeletons. Some of the most beautiful and bizarre things in Florence can be seen here: an unmissable visit.

San Gimignano – Torture and Death Penalty Museum

Beauty, art, science, but also history. There are many torture museums in Tuscany (including in Volterra and Siena, for example), but in the beautiful medieval village of San Gimignano, there are two that are truly interesting and heavily visited by tourists from around the world. It's an exhibition on the history of torture and the history of capital punishment, from the most distant centuries to recent times. A museum that's historically interesting – featuring macabre and bizarre torture instruments – but also makes us reflect on the present.

Florence - Museum of the Opificio delle Pietre Dure

Finally, here's a truly surprising museum that not everyone knows about. If you're in Florence, we absolutely recommend visiting it. Founded in the late 1800s, it's a museum dedicated to semi-precious stone work, such as lapis lazuli, agates, and other stones and minerals known for their aesthetic value. The workshop was established in 1588 by Ferdinand I de' Medici and is still active today. Inside the museum, you can see some of the most beautiful and refined workmanship and decorations in the world, as well as discover their techniques.

Perfect bags for museum visits

Since when visiting a museum we always need space – for the camera, tablet, water bottle, and any books, guides, or souvenirs we might want to buy – take a look at our women's leather bags catalog or our men's leather bags catalog made in Tuscany. You'll surely find the right bag for your walks and visits to Tuscan museums.

For us at Original Tuscany, beauty is a fundamental value, and we try to communicate it through our bags. Beauty combined with utility: practical objects with refined design, artisanal craftsmanship, and details that unite the taste for sophisticated design with the technical skill of Made in Italy.

Contact us now – our customer service will be happy to help you choose your perfect bag.