Museo delle Terre Nuove
Museum in the Palazzo d'Arnolfo that tells the story of the medieval “Terre Nuove” and the founding of Castel San Giovanni.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museo delle Terre Nuove, opened in 2013 and run by the municipality of San Giovanni Valdarno, is housed in the Palazzo d'Arnolfo, a building erected between the late 13th and the early 14th century for political purposes and to control the territory, like the other newly founded towns.
The theme of the museum is the “Terre Nuove” (new lands), towns and villages founded after the year 1000 in much of medieval Europe, with particular attention to Tuscany and the Florentine foundations. Around a plot of land granted to anyone who built a house there, communities grew up with a degree of autonomy, but also tools to extend the control of the cities over the territory.
The route covers two floors with thirteen thematic rooms: from the history of the palace and of the Terre Nuove in Europe, to urban planning, architecture and everyday life in Castel San Giovanni. In the Sala Consiliare (council chamber) are displayed the eight tondi (round paintings) by Giovanni da San Giovanni (1592–1636), on long-term loan from the Gallerie degli Uffizi.
Highlights
- Palazzo d'Arnolfo, a medieval building from the late 13th century
- Thirteen-room route on the foundation of the Terre Nuove
- Eight tondi by Giovanni da San Giovanni in the Sala Consiliare
- Immersive room with projections on three walls
- Models and tactile panels, videos in LIS (Italian Sign Language) and a virtual tour
Permanent exhibition
- Percorso museale sulle Terre Nuove – Thirteen rooms on two floors devoted to the founding, urban planning and daily life of the Terre Nuove, with the Giovanni da San Giovanni tondi in the council chamber.
- Founded
- 2013
- Operated by
- Comune di San Giovanni Valdarno
- Visitors per year
- approx. 8,795
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Groups of more than 15 people, young people aged 18 to 25, over 65s, holders of the Carta Mutuasalus and the APC Gold Card |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free admission for under-18s. |
| Groups (16+ people) | €3 per personReduced rate for groups of more than 15 people. |
| Supplement for guided or animated tour / activity | €3 |
| Birthday at the museum (up to 25 people) | €100Includes admission, tour or activity and use of a reserved room. |
Free admission: First Sunday of the month: free admission for everyone.
Free admission for residents of San Giovanni Valdarno and for under-18s. Guided or animated tours and activities carry a supplement of €3.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum offers tactile models and panels in resin, three tactile tablets with audio (Il Marzocco, La facciata, Le case), videos in LIS, touch stations and audio files to support the visit. The “Museo inclusivo” page does not describe the physical accessibility of the spaces.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Kids’ birthday parties
The museum offers activities for schools, families and adults, a teaching workshop and birthday parties.
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 | Guided or animated tours for families on Saturdays at 16:00, with booking by 19:00 on the preceding Thursday. A teaching workshop, a virtual tour and a PDF guide (Vademecum) are also available. |
