MAC,n — Museum of Contemporary Art
Via Gragnano 349, 51015 Monsummano Terme (PT), Italy
Why visit
MAC,n — the Museum of Contemporary and 20th-Century Art — occupies Villa Renatico Martini just above the centre of Monsummano Terme. It is a rewarding stop for travellers who enjoy intimate museums: the setting, the collection and the surrounding park can be experienced at an unhurried pace, away from Tuscany’s busiest cultural routes.
The collection
The museum preserves the “Il Renatico” civic collection, a core of paintings, graphic works and sculpture by local and nationally recognised artists. Works associated with Pietro Annigoni, Vinicio Berti, Ferdinando Chevrier, Lamberto Pignotti, Eugenio Miccini and Ketty La Rocca help trace different currents of 20th-century Italian art. Temporary exhibitions and cultural events give the villa a changing contemporary programme.
A villa with its own story
Villa Renatico Martini was built around 1887 for the writer and politician Ferdinando Martini, to a design by Cesare Spighi. Its eclectic late-19th-century architecture survives in the symmetrical façade, double access staircase and decorated interiors, including elegant coffered ceilings. The building became a municipal cultural venue in 1988 and has housed the civic museum since its establishment in 2000.
Do not miss the park
Allow time for a walk through the surrounding garden, now known as Parco David Bowie. Mature cork oaks, camphor trees and sequoias frame the villa and make the visit especially pleasant in warm weather. The park also hosts open-air cultural activities during the summer season.
Practical advice
The museum is at Via Gragnano 349, on the road rising towards Monsummano Alto. Before travelling, check the official website for current opening hours and temporary exhibitions. Guided visits are available free of charge by reservation; the museum states that it is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. For information, call +39 0572 952140 or email museoarte@comune.monsummano-terme.pt.it.