Things to do in Tuscany, Italy: The Best History Museums

Located in San Gimignano, Campatelli is an 18th-century building that features one of the town’s famous medieval towers. The residence of a high-ranking family in the 19th and 20th centuries, Casa Campatelli reconstructs - through its fornitures, decor, paintings and private mementos - the ambience and history of a traditional Tuscan family and society of a bygone age, set against the background of 1000 years of history, recounted with sophisticated digital technology that encapsulates the origin of the legend of San Gimignano, givin visitors a deeper insight unto the town.

For preservation purposes, many significant works have been moved from the Duomo to this nearby museum.

Housed in an old palace that was restored in the mid-1800s, this science museum houses an impressive collection of scientific instruments dating from the 13th century.

The MAEC houses an extraordinary collection bringing together all the material discovered in and around Cortona since the 1700s.The museum collection can be visited in two sections: one dedicated to the Etruscan Academy, and the other centered on the most recent findings from the Cortona necropolis. The collection of the Accademai Etrusca boasts exceptional pieces from various historical periods, like the celebrated Etruscan Chandelier, ancient Egyptian burial goods and works by futurist master Gino Severini. The section dedicated to the City of Cortona offers a journey that begins in the paleoenvironment of the Chiana Valley and arrives in the Cortona of Roman times, passing through the ancient period (580-480 B.C.E.) with the princely Etruscan tombs of the Sodo and Camucia and significant findings such as the Tabula Cortonensis, the third longest Etruscan text in the world.The layout of the museum was specifically designed to communicate with visitors in an innovative way, using both reconstructions and multimedia equipment. All texts are fully rendered in both English and Braill.

This is the town of San Gimignano, re-created in miniature, as it appeared in medieval times. It is accompanied by historical dioramas and a fascinaating timeline of the town's history.A new and exciting activity through the streets of the medieval town, solving puzzles, riddles and pitfalls.The protagonists will receive a kit that includes a map of the city as it was in the 1300s, a pen and a 14 page booklet where they will find not only the riddles for the hunt but also detailed explanations on all the towers that still exist today,on the 4 “Contrade” or neighborhoods and the most important families of that period.The treasure hunt is available in Italian, English and French.

The Etruscan Museum of Chianciano Terme was inaugurated in Spring 1997 and is now considered one of the finest Etruscan museum in Italy, for the wealth of the archaeological finds and the thought provoking settings. It is also appreciated for the careful attention to the well-being of visitors and for the friendliness of the building and the operators. Rather than a museum, it has been described as a complete, and not boring, exhibition on the Etruscan civilization. The visit is organized by thematic sections on the main aspects of the life and the death of the ancient inhabitants of Tuscany. All that is supported by thought provoking realistic reconstructions, clear explanations, and short videos.All the descriptions in the museum are translated into English, German and French; the videos have English subtitles. The Etruscan Museum of Chianciano Terme is housed in the 4 floors of old granary of the early XIX century: the underground floor (an old wine cellar) is the most impressive part of the museum. The museum has an elevator and is wheelchair accessible. There are three rest rooms, one for persons with disabilities. A wardrobe is located at the entrance of the Museum, along with a drinking water dispenser. Chairs and easy chairs are available in all the rooms; the museum has also a relaxation area.

Palazzo Viti is one of the finest private residential building in Italy. The twelve rooms tht are open to the pubblic are fitted with furniture, porcelains, alabaster collection and other valuable items representing Italian, European and Oriental Art. The Palace is still inhabited by descendant of the Viti family.