A guide to digital mobility along the byways of beauty, culture and universal art.
 

Who would have thought the day would come when from our own home we can visit the hallowed halls of a museum, discover new exhibitions and admire valuable art collections? Today’s technology makes that all possible, crossing mental and geographical boundaries. We live in a world where physical distance does not mean that we cannot come closer in other ways, enjoying veritable beauties and artistic visions.
How did Italy’s major museums deal with lockdown? What initiatives did they set up? When can we visit them in person again? 
Let’s now enter the Wunderkammer of many of Italy’s most important and prestigious museums, which never stopped showing their treasures to those keen to (re)discover Italy’s immense cultural and artistic heritage despite having to stay at home.

Florence.

At last, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence reopened to the public on 7 July. What interesting solutions did the museum adopt during lockdown? Director Eike Dieter Schmidt said: “Let’s avoid all contagion bar the contagion of beauty.” In consequence, the most famous museum in Florence (and Tuscany) threw its doors open to new virtual dimensions as part of its #Museichiusimuseiaperti initiative.  The heart of the IperVisioni digital project was a series of virtual online exhibitions telling evocative stories through high-definition images of the most famous collections. Another interesting initiative is the Uffizi Decameron venture, in which the Museum shared photos, videos and insights on the masterpieces in the Gallery of Statues and Paintings, Palazzo Pitti and Boboli Gardens (which reopened to the public on 21 May) every day on its social profiles.

Now that beautiful Florence is slowly reopening its streets to curious visitors, for an unforgettable stay the Gruppo UNA suggests spending the night at the charming UNAHOTELS Vittoria Firenze, where the interiors were designed by famous architect Fabio Novembre.

Bergamo.

The present is the future yet to be built. This is what we learn from the Bergamo Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art’s latest digital offering as it continues to support the city, creating an alternative and optimistic imagination capable of healing all wounds with art. In addition to putting its exhibitions online, the museum’s Instagram page offers half an hour of information and insights into news, art, literature and society. Another new development is the birth of Radio GAMeC, an initiative that has forged a very strong relationship with the citizens. The platform for live streaming available on the Gallery’s social channels and on air has won praise from UNESCO.  Other wonderful initiatives worthy of note include the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo’s #vistadacasa and #museichiusimuseiaperti projects, through which it has shared insights into its Tiziano and Caravaggio in Peterzano exhibition and its permanent collection on social media. Bergamo and the museum have been back in full swing since 12 July with Daniel Buren’s “Fibres optiques” exhibition, in which one of the world’s most important living artists redesigned and illuminated Capriate Hall at Palazzo della Ragione, Bergamo. 

Milan.

The Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology in Milan has also sent its most winning narratives out to join us in our homes. The #storieaportechiuse project keenly shared what normally happens behind the scenes at the Museum, with a special focus on its collections and interactive laboratories, delving deeper into the science and everything behind it through lively video content, images and unpublished documents. Every Sunday, the Museum broadcast “The Leonardo da Vinci Stories”, a perfect opportunity to explore the great scientist’s life and career. The museum reopened on 2 July on an initial temporary reduced hours basis: Thursdays from 3pm to 9pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 7pm. After remaining virtually active, the Pinacoteca di Brera reopened its doors to the public from 9 June. It will continue to welcome visitors throughout the summer, with a major piece of good news: free admission for all until September.

Here’s info on some of Gruppo UNA’s facilities for your next vacation in Milan. Let’s start with Maison Milano | UNA Esperienze, located in the centre of the city in an elegant historic building, followed by UNAHOTELS Century Milano, a stone’s throw from the Porta Nuova district.

Turin.

The Egyptian Museum of Turin reopened with a special free day on Tuesday, 2 June, Italy’s National Republic Day. The museum re-opened for three days a week – Friday, Saturday and Sunday – from 5 June, with reduced admission prices for all and ticket purchases exclusively online. Behind closed doors, the museum never stopped working, rolling out a highly stimulating catalogue of digital activities, from evocative virtual tours developed with students at the Polytechnic of Turin to “Walks with the Director”, virtual tours accompanied by Museum Director Christian Greco. Videos on the website dedicated to past and present exhibitions are also interesting, along with the unique heritage that belongs to the whole of humanity that the Museum has shared on its official social media.

Rome.

We conclude our tour with Le Scuderie del Quirinale of Roma, which reopened its exhibition “Raffaello 1520-1483” from 2 June to 30 August. To allow more visitors to enjoy the exhibition, the museum has extended its opening hours from 8am to 11pm on weekdays, and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays. 

Now that the capital is back as a holiday destination, the UNA Group suggests UNAHOTELS Decò as the ideal solution for the Eternal City’s charm, its location a stone’s throw from Termini Station perfect for exploring Rome.