Pitti Palace Museum Of Russian Icons

The Pitti Palace Museum of Russian Icons is a unique museum located in the heart of Florence, Italy. It is dedicated to Russian icons, which are religious paintings used in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The museum's collection includes over 400 icons, ranging from the 15th to the 19th century. These icons showcase the rich history and culture of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as the art and craftsmanship of the time period.

The museum is housed in the Palazzina della Meridiana, which is a separate building located on the grounds of the Pitti Palace. The museum's collection was started in the 1920s by a Russian emigre, Countess Maria Vittoria Colonna Rospigliosi. Over the years, the collection has grown and expanded to include not only icons, but also other religious objects, such as liturgical books, crosses, and chalices.

• The Pitti Palace Museum of Russian Icons was established in 1925, following the acquisition of the collection by the Marquis Cini.
• The collection includes over 400 Russian icons, making it one of the most significant collections of Russian religious art outside of Russia.
• The icons were originally collected by Cini during his travels in Russia in the early 20th century, and the collection was later expanded through purchases and donations.
• The museum was closed during World War II and many of the icons were moved to safer locations, but the collection was returned to the museum after the war.
• In the 1990s, the museum underwent a major renovation and expansion, with the addition of new exhibition spaces and the restoration of many of the icons in the collection.
• Today, the museum continues to be a significant cultural institution in Florence, showcasing the rich artistic heritage of Russia and its Orthodox Church.

Suggested For You: Top Nearby Restaurants of Palazzo Pitti