Pinacoteca Foresiana
Civic picture gallery in Portoferraio, founded on the bequest of Mario Foresi: paintings, prints and works of art from the 16th to the 19th century, including works by Signorini and Nomellini.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Pinacoteca Foresiana was founded in 1914, when the Elban intellectual Mario Foresi donated to the municipality of Portoferraio a collection of paintings, prints, furniture and drawings that he had inherited from his father and uncle. The collection reflects the taste and cultural heritage of the family and includes artists and schools from different periods.
The museum opened to the public on 21 September 1924 on the top floor of the Palazzo Comunale, where it remained until 1943. The works were then moved to the Napoleonic villas of San Martino and dei Mulini; since 1991 the gallery has been housed in the former De Laugier barracks, now the Centro culturale De Laugier.
The display is organised into twelve thematic areas. It begins with portraits of the Foresi family and images of Elban personalities and landscapes, including the famous portrait of Mago Chiò by Telemaco Signorini. This is followed by 19th-century genres (orientalism, caricature, portraiture), copies of Renaissance and Baroque paintings, views of Rome, Florence and Livorno, mythological subjects and classical-style landscapes, including the Lago di Nemi by Salvator Rosa. The last room holds works owned by the municipality that are not part of the bequest, such as the portrait of Pietro Gori by Plinio Nomellini and the Tamerice by Llewelyn Lloyd.
Highlights
- Portrait of Mago Chiò by Telemaco Signorini
- Portrait of the lawyer Pietro Gori by Plinio Nomellini
- Tamerice (Tamarisk) by Llewelyn Lloyd
- Lago di Nemi by Salvator Rosa
- Twelve thematic areas devoted to the Mario Foresi bequest
Permanent exhibition
- Collezione Foresi – Paintings, prints and art objects from the Foresi bequest, arranged in twelve thematic areas, from family portraits to views of Elba.
- Founded
- 1914
- Operated by
- Comune di Portoferraio (gestione: Cosimo de' Medici S.r.l.)
- Visitors per year
- approx. 2,193
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €6 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €4Children aged 9 to 18, groups (minimum 15 people), university students with ID card, over-70s, holders of the Elba mobility pass and of the EdumuseiCard |
| Children & teens | €4free up to age 8 · Children aged 9 to 18; free admission up to age 8. |
| Seniors | €4Over-70s. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with disabilities and one companion. |
| Students & apprentices | €4University students with a valid ID card. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €4 per personGroups and school parties, per person. |
| Cosmopoli Card (7 days, all cultural sites run by Cosimo de’ Medici) | €20Reduced €15; family (minimum 3 people) €15. Includes Forte Falcone, Fortezze Medicee, Museo della Linguella, Teatro dei Vigilanti, Pinacoteca Foresiana and Villa romana delle Grotte. |
Free admission also for residents of Portoferraio, pupils of schools in Portoferraio, licensed tourist guides on duty, journalists with a press card and holders of an ICOM card.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
The gallery is on the first floor of the Centro culturale De Laugier, in the former barracks above the historic centre; from the central Piazza Cavour, follow Salita Napoleone.
Get directionsAmenities & 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 |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided visits by reservation through the Info Point in Portoferraio (tel. +39 0565 193 3589). |
