Musei civici di Villa Paolina
Neoclassical villa of Paolina Bonaparte in Viareggio, now home to the Museo archeologico “Alberto Carlo Blanc”, the Museo degli strumenti musicali “Giovanni Ciuffreda” and the Alfredo Catarsini atelier.
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About the museum
Villa Paolina was built in 1822 on the seafront, at the northern edge of Viareggio, at the request of the musician Giovanni Pacini and to a design by the architect Giovanni Lazzarini. The building, with a centrally symmetrical plan and Doric order, draws on the Roman domus in a learned way and is a unique example of neoclassical architecture in Viareggio. It later passed to Paolina Bonaparte, sister of Napoleon, who stayed there for only one season, and after her death to Carolina Murat, who enlarged the service rooms.
Today the villa houses the civic museums. The Museo archeologico e dell’uomo “Alberto Carlo Blanc” is dedicated to prehistory and preserves evidence from north-western Tuscany, such as Palaeolithic stone artefacts and Neolithic pottery. The Museo degli strumenti musicali “Giovanni Ciuffreda” originates from the donation of the physician and collector who gathered around 400 instruments of various periods and origins: about 200 of them are displayed in six rooms.
The building also contains the monumental rooms of the villa and, in the attic, the studio of the painter Alfredo Catarsini.
Highlights
- Neoclassical architecture of Villa Paolina (1822)
- Prehistoric collection of the Museo Blanc
- About 200 musical instruments on display, from many cultures
- 17th-century pocket violin, Burmese harp and Venetian psaltery
- Atelier of the painter Alfredo Catarsini
Permanent exhibitions
- Museo archeologico e dell'uomo Alberto Carlo Blanc – Prehistoric evidence from north-western Tuscany, including Palaeolithic stone tools and Neolithic pottery.
- Museo degli strumenti musicali Giovanni Ciuffreda – About 200 musical instruments from various periods and cultures, largely from popular and ethnic traditions, in six rooms.
- Atelier Alfredo Catarsini – The studio of the Viareggio painter Alfredo Catarsini, reconstructed in the villa’s attic.
- Founded
- 1975
- Operated by
- Comune di Viareggio
- Visitors per year
- approx. 17,053
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €2people over 65, people with disabilities, military and police personnel, students, Coop members and Touring Club members (with membership card) |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 14 · Free admission for children up to 14. |
| Combined ticket for the Viareggio museums (Galleria Viani, Villa Paolina with the Museo Blanc, Museo della Marineria): standard | €10No expiry date, valid for all three venues. |
| Combined ticket for the Viareggio museums: reduced | €5 |
The combined ticket has no expiry date and should be kept until the visits to the three venues are completed.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 14 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Educational workshops and art weekends for families.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The education department organises guided visits, workshops and art weekends for families; information and bookings at +39 0584 944 580. |
